Reply #13: Have you read Team of Rivals?

[JDPriestly]

That book clearly explains Lincoln's motivations in going to war. And, of course, at the beginning of the war, he had no intention of declaring the emancipation of the slaves. But, many Northerners including some of the most influential and steadfast members of his cabinet were abolitionists.

I believe that Lincoln freed the slaves because, as president, he came to know and respect African-Americans, and especially because he appreciated their willingness to fight for the Union. Lincoln was also motivated to free the slaves because, by freeing them, he weakened the rebel army which relied on slaves to do a lot of the work. So it was complicated.

Regardless of Lincoln's reasons for fighting the Civil War, the fact is that a lot of the Union troops, the volunteers in that war were abolitionists. That was true in my family I can say for sure. They volunteered because they were fervent abolitionists.