No community better reflected the growing passion against slavery than Oberlin College. In September 1858 the sudden kidnapping of a runaway slave who was living in Oberlin caused the entire community and its college students to rush to his rescue. The slave was rescued; but 37 of his rescuers were identified and put on trial for violating federal law; the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850. The case became a cause célèbre throughout the North.
#1187667 in Books NYU Press 2012-12-24 2012-12-24Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.02 x 1.00 x 5.98l; 1.46 #File Name: 081477301X395 pages
Review
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Rethinking the Civil War...By James T. Kennedy MDCivil War Dynasty: The Ewing Family of Ohio is Kenneth J. Heineman's exploration of a familiar tale; the Civil War; from an unusual perspective. Focused on an extended family of important men and women who; while forgotten by history; were front and center during all the political and military events of our nation's searing conflict. Three Ewing brothers became Union generals during the war; but the author goes way beyond this Civil War trivia; and uses the family's story to expand the reader's historical understanding of these years with a `You Are There' reality based view that leaves neither the "Father Abraham Savior" nor the "Lost Cause" versions reinforced. By stepping back from the usual characters to focus on this one family living through this important piece of history all inevitability is eliminated. The complexity of the times comes forward in these lives and a thoughtful consideration replaces the conventional story usually woven from a battle-to-battle accounting. No singular biography of Lincoln; Davis; Grant; Lee; Sheridan; or Seward can match this encompassing version of politics; religion; battle; honor; intrigue; and betrayal. Indeed; Civil War Dynasty reads like a multi-generational novel about an engaging family--except all of this saga is true.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. The Kennedys of the Nineteenth CenturyBy C. LoganDuring the most tumultuous period in American history; the Ewing family (along with Brother-in-law William Tecumseh Sherman) spilled on to the national stage from the tiny town of Lancaster; Ohio. In politics and law; both at the state and national level; they provided progressive leadership; uniting the Ohio Whigs with moderate abolitionists to become the Republican party of Lincoln.Then; as the country spiraled into Civil War; they took up arms to defend the Union; serving with bravery and distinction at South Mountain; Shiloh; the Kansas Border wars; Antietam; Vicksburg; Chattanooga- Chickamauga; the Battle for Atlanta and the March to the Sea. By the end of the war; four Ewing brothers had reached the rank of General; three of whom served under General "Cump" Sherman. History abounds. Even their grammar school sidekick from neighing Somerset; Ohio; was the Union's most capable cavalry commander; General Phillip Sheridan.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Important Family - If they ever make miniseries again; this family history should be considered for it.By WaltOk; I wrote one of the first biographies on General Thomas Ewing and research him on a regular basis. So-o-o-o; I can easily get nit-picky and argumentative when discussing nuances in what effected the ebbs and flows in his life. I won't do that here. In general; I found it a good history and since the points I might argue others might consider trivial; I would definitely recommend it for reading.If you are wondering over what I could be nit-picky or pedantic; it would be how Order No. 11 and George Caleb Bingham affected Tom's political career. I also noted that the author used a figure of around 10;000 people being removed under Order No. 11. Except for one obscure reference and Tom's own statement of 300 to 400 families; research I did suggested that number. The sources given in his book to my knowledge generally use a number of around 20;000 or more. So I would like to have seen more footnotes in the book; so I could dig further.
