Mr. Lincoln’s T-Mails

Technology has been cited as the cause for many things … from landing on the moon to winning a war. And, of course, technology has been blamed for many ills in the world … from overcrowded airwaves to cell phone use causing traffic accidents to crowded mail boxes, e-mail that is.

Now, a new book by Tom Wheeler, "Mr. Lincoln’s T-Mails: The Untold Story of How Abraham Lincoln Used the Telegraph to Win the Civil War," suggests that President Lincoln used the technology of the 1860’s to win the Civil War. 

Apparently, the South didn’t want to become so industrialized as the North and the ills associated with Northern life; thus, they didn’t embrace the telegraph technology which resulted in slowing communication to their armed forces.

Somehow, it’s difficult to think of technology and the mid-1800’s … I’m accustomed to the term "industrialization;" what is technology to one era is industrialization to another era. But, it’s the same.

For Civil War buffs and those interested in a new perspective on history, this book should prove to be an interesting read.

Categorized in: Technology