During the civil war, there was a presidential election. Lincoln managed to win due to, at least in part, the fact that Sherman had taken Atlanta, and other victories showing that the end was relatively near. What if tensions had simmered for a year or 2, and then the civil war had broken out, would Lincoln have been defeated by a peace candidate, as the war would not have gone on as long, and the end would seem further away. I am not saying that the war goes exactly the same except a year or 2 later, but it stands to reason that the situation may not be as good for the Union around election time. Would such a delay be possible? What if secession happened on scheduled, but the war itself was delayed? What does the time of year have to do with it?