ePub Alias "Paine": Lewis Thornton Powell; the Mystery Man of the Lincoln Conspiracy; 2d ed. by Betty J. Ownsbey in History

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Remarkable” and “astonishing;” says Jan Morris of Roy Moxham’s account of his search for “one of the least-known wonders of Queen Victoria’s India;” and John Keay finds it “a compelling read; simply told; and simply wonderful.” An unquestionably fascinating tale; as well as a travel book and historical detective story; The Great Hedge of India begins in a secondhand bookshop on London’s Charing Cross Road. There Roy Moxham buys the memoir of a nineteenth-century British colonial administrative officer; who makes a passing reference to a giant hedge planted by the British across the Indian subcontinent. That hedge—which for fifty years had been manned and cared for by 12;000 men and had run a length of 2;500 miles—becomes what Moxham calls his “ridiculous obsession.” Recounting a journey that takes him to exotic isolated villages deep in the interior of India; Moxham chronicles his efforts to confirm the existence of the extraordinary; impenetrable green wall that had virtually disappeared from two nations’ memories. Not only does he discover the shameful role the hedge played in the exploitative Raj and the famines of the late nineteenth century; but he also uncovers what remains of this British grand folly and restores to history what must be counted one of the world’s wonders—and a monument to one of the great injustices of Victorian imperialism. “Grandly entertaining ... close to being a perfect story of a fanciful quest.”—Boston Globe_x000D_ John Rae's accomplishments; surpassing all nineteenth-century Arctic explorers; were worthy of honors and international fame. No explorer even approached Rae's prolific record: 1;776 miles surveyed of uncharted territory; 6;555 miles hiked on snowshoes; and 6;700 miles navigated in small boats. Yet; he was denied fair recognition of his discoveries because he dared to utter the truth about the fate of Sir John Franklin and his crew; Rae's predecessors in the far north. Author Ken McGoogan vividly narrates the astonishing adventures of Rae; who found the last link to the Northwest Passage and uncovered the grisly truth about the cannibalism of Franklin and his crew. A bitter smear campaign by Franklin's supporters would deny Rae his knighthood and bury him in ignominy for over one hundred and fifty years. Ken McGoogan's passion to secure justice for a true North American hero in this revelatory book produces a completely original and compelling portrait that elevates Rae to his rightful place as one of history's greatest explorers._x000D_ Their distinguished World War I record featured the longest front line service of any American regiment; with not a soldier captured or a foot of ground lost. They were the first Allied unit to reach the Rhine River. Their distinguished Private Henry Johnson was awarded France’s prestigious Croix de Guerre; for singlehandedly knocking out a platoon of twenty-eight German troops—yet Johnson is today still denied America’s Medal of Honor. While the French government honored the 369th’s battlefield exploits; the French people fell in love with its regimental band’s hot jazz. This saga of soldiers whose struggle to reach the front lines was shadowed by racism begins with debates among black leaders over whether African-Americans should withhold support for the war until steps toward equality were made; then follows the harrowing path of the 15th Regiment of Colored Infantry’s formation which; lacking a proper armory; drilled in the streets of Harlem and a local dance hall. The 15th was ready to fight by 1917; but was forbidden from serving under U.S. command by General John J. Pershing; who handed over the re-named 369th to the French Army. This rousing story of arms and a band—led by jazz pioneer Lieutenant James Reese Europe—that toured Europe’s hospitals; villages; and cities; is a thrilling portrait of the soldiers whose return to U.S. soil; complete with a spectacular parade up Fifth Avenue; helped fuel the Harlem Renaissance. It is also the story of the 369th’s contributions in the Pacific during World War II; and in Iraq during the Gulf War. It is a story of pride and accomplishment; not only of the Harlem Hellfighters; but of other black military heroes who have followed in their footsteps. 8 pages of black-and-white photographs are also featured; celebrating the military valor and musical splendor of the U.S. Army's most famous all-black regiment._x000D_ Steve Jackson’s Lucky Lady chronicles the saga of the aircraft carrier Franklin; the light cruiser Santa Fe; and their tragic encounter on March 19; 1945; when a Japanese bomber broke through U.S. air cover and dropped two 500-pound bombs on the Franklin. Fires were set off as ammunition and fuel exploded. The Franklin was near sinking; with all her 2;500 sailors in mortal danger. To the Japanese high command; American aircraft carriers represented supreme power. If several could be sunk; it might vanquish America’s resolve. Against this backdrop; the Santa Fe; nicknamed the “Lucky Lady” for its unparalleled record of avoiding casualties throughout the war; came steaming to the Franklin’s aid. In a maneuver heralded as one of the greatest feats of seamanship in naval history; the Santa Fe bellied up alongside the listing tinderbox of the Franklin; rescuing more than 800 sailors who were ferried across rope catwalks as flames on the burning sea licked at them from below. Despite the risk of being swamped by the much larger ship; the Lucky Lady remained alongside the Franklin; helping to shepherd the crippled vessel toward safety. Meanwhile; in the skies above; a vicious battle was fought; as the Franklin was stalked by Japanese planes eager to finish off their kill. In a haunting conclusion; Jackson measures the sacrifices and the triumphs of the two ships. This book is a fitting memorial that will move readers everywhere. 8 pages of black-and-white photographs heighten this dramatic saga._x000D_ In September 1928; when great storms were still unnamed; nearly 700 black men; women; and children were buried in an unmarked West Palm Beach ditch following the nation's second-deadliest hurricane. The savage gusts that churned the waters of Lake Okeechobee into a maelstrom of death afflicted victims of all races and classes; and produced tales of survival and loss among whites and blacks alike. The vast majority of the post-storm workers were poor black migrants; even if the hurricane was color-blind; the recovery and rebuilding effort were not. Palm Beach Post hurricane reporter and Florida native Eliot Kleinberg has penned the gripping tale of the killer hurricane. The storm's journey is chronicled as it kills perhaps 7;000 people along its path from the Caribbean to Canada; including a low official tally of 1;836 in Florida alone. Detailing the storm's track; the failure to properly predict landfall; personal battles against nature's wrath; and the extraordinary suffering of a black citizenry forced to provide a disproportionate amount of rebuilding labor and endure the burial of friends and family in an unmarked pit; Kleinberg tells a powerful story of man versus nature and man versus man._x000D_ Some historians argue that the Civil War; with its use of rifled muskets and artillery; was the first great modern" war; others argue that it was a sideshow of amateur generals and citizen soldiers whose tactics yielded few innovations or lasting lessons. Acclaimed military historian Brent Nosworthy takes on this great controversy and; for the first time in any book; covers the methods of Civil War warfare in their entirety. This work presents the most thorough study of Civil War military practices ever written. With diagrams; photos; and maps throughout; Nosworthy weaves together the story of newly emerging weapons; the resulting changes in military doctrine; and the combatants' experiences as these innovations were applied to the battlefield. Detailing the four-year evolution of warfare from General Irvin McDowell's first tentative efforts to Lee's and Grant's final exertions at Petersburg; the author examines tactical variation due to regional differences and the distinctive circumstances of each campaign: the methods used in the eastern theater versus those in the west; the confused fighting in the wilderness; the "trench" warfare at Vicksburg; and the techniques used in other famous battles; like Gettysburg and Antietam.