Each summer between 1862 and 1864, the Lincoln family left the White House and headed outside Washington to a cottage located in the ground of the Old Soldiers’ home, a residence for disabled military veterans. Seeking an escape from the pressures of the presidency and the endless visitors to the White House, this residence offered Lincoln sanctuary, and the perspective to think how best to pursue the war

Despite Lincoln living at the Soldiers’ home for almost a quarter of his presidency, his time at this location has been rather overlooked by historians and the general public, with the home not declared a national monument until the year 2000. Matthew Pinsker highlights how this has been a missed opportunity, convincingly arguing that the unfamiliar setting of the home helps shine new light on familiar events from Lincoln’s time in office. The summers that Lincoln was in residence coincided with some of the most momentous decisions of his presidency, particularly the summer of 1862 which saw his gradual progression towards a declaration of emancipation. In well chosen examples we see Lincoln struggling with the replacement of Union commanders, military setbacks and other wartime concerns; the secluded nature of the home failing to shield Lincoln from the responsibilities of his position.   

Although a large part of the work highlights how Lincoln’s stay at the home corresponded with key wartime developments, where it really shines is in its depiction of the social benefits that the home conferred upon the President. Lincoln was often deprived of the company of his wife and son, particularly in 1863 when Mary and Tad were away from the home for 10 weeks in the aftermath of Mary’s carriage accident. The void created by their departure encouraged Lincoln to talk to the soldiers stationed there, entertain visitors and callers, and spend time with the Stanton family - the Secretary of War also taking advantage of the escape offered by the soldiers’ home. What emerges is a portrayal that serves to humanise the legendary President. Whether he is entertaining visitors while wearing carpet slippers, visiting a nearby Contraband camp, or riding through the grounds of the home, his humanity and character shine through.

That it does so in such convincing fashion is testament to the large variety of sources used by Pinsker, many of them rarely seen before. Of particular interest are the reminisces of soldiers from Company K, 150^th Pennsylvania, the army unit deployed to guard Lincoln during his stay. These men enjoyed unparalleled access to the President, with their recollections highlighting how Lincoln would often come down to their camp to listen to their views, something that the men used to their advantage in order to gain supplies and provisions. While the number of visitors that passed through the home during the Lincoln family’s stay was probably in the hundreds, Pinsker’s work contains insights from 75 such visitors, a cross-section of society that included generals, politicians, socialites and foreign dignitaries.   

These varied characters help give colour to the narrative of the book, and add another dimension to an already engaging tale. Clearly argued and well constructed, this work is a welcome addition to the existing scholarship on Lincoln, showing that even the most well documented event can still have new light shed upon it. Pinsker argues that “The place was not just a backdrop to great events but also a participant in them.” After reading this well-researched book, it is hard to disagree.