Belloc

Interesting analysis on the deficiencies of Union grand strategy during the war. It was also interesting to read the critical examination of de Jomini's influence on American military thinking of the time. I know much of American strategy at the time tried to emulate the Napoleonic model, which had an impact on the earlier stages of the conflict.

Lack of common strategy may have caused longer, bloodier Civil War

tjadams

Key people, with West Point training and thus exposed to de Jomini and
to Dennis H. Mahan, were in key positions to plan, promote and prosecute
the war. It took a man with no military training and trusting of his generals
plans (Lincoln) to finally see the war in a different prism & act accordingly.

Tuthmosis III

Lack of grand-strategy level coordination leading to the war being longer than necessary is a basic premise of Donald Stoker as well in The Grand Design (2010).
(Good book, but one criticism I have is the author's tendency to chide political and military leaders for failling to follow Clausewitzian principles - Clausewitz was virtually unknown in America until after the war!)

Winfield Scott also perceived early what steps the new situation would require.

Rongo

I have this book, but it's several levels down in my "to read" pile. Maybe I'll have to bump it up a few levels.

Tuthmosis III

Depending on what else is in your pile.
It is a good read, but I wouldn't call it a 'drop everything'. (As opposed to Bruce Catton...)