While much has been written about the hunt for John Wilkes Booth; much less has been written about the efforts to apprehend Confederate President Jefferson Davis in the days following the dissolution of the Confederacy; and the subsequent attempt to try him for treason. In the only book to tell the definitive story of Davis's chase; capture; imprisonment; and release; journalist and Civil War writer Clint Johnson brings this chapter in our nation's history to vivid life; and paints a fascinating portrait of one of American history's most complex and enduring figures. In the vulnerable weeks following the end of the War and Abraham Lincoln's assassination; some in President Andrew Johnson's administration burned to exact revenge against Davis. Trumping up charges of conspiracy to murder Lincoln and treason against the Union; Secretary of War Edwin Stanton ordered cavalry after Davis. After a chase through North and South Carolina and Georgia; Davis was captured on May 10; 1865. The former United States Senator and Mexican War hero was imprisoned for two years in Fortress Monroe; Virginia; where he was subjected to torture and humiliation--but never brought to trial. Remarkably; the Johnson administration knew Davis was innocent of all crimes before he was even arrested. With a keen eye for the period's detail; as well as a Southerner's insight; Johnson sheds new light on Davis's time on the run; his treatment while imprisoned; his surprising release from custody; and his eventual exoneration--exposing the powerful political forces involved; and their lasting impact. Johnson draws on extensive official historical documents as well as countless archived private materials such as diaries; letters; and private papers. With the 200th anniversary of Davis's birth in 2008; the time has never been better for a compelling account of such a defining episode of the Civil War. Advance Praise for Pursuit: The Chase; Capture; Persecution; and Surprising Release of Confederate President Jefferson Davis "A master storyteller exposes one of the most fascinating and overlooked dramas in Civil War history." --Rod Gragg Author of Covered With Glory and Confederate Goliath "Using solid research; an engaging style and a novelist's eye for details; Clint Johnson has produced a vivid; fresh and entertaining look at Jefferson Davis's flight and capture. This book is a welcome addition to the literature on the final days of the Confederacy and the fate of its one and only chief executive." --Chris Hartley Author of Stuart's Tarheels: James B. Gordon and His North Carolina Cavalry "If there was one Civil War historian I would choose to tell the story of Jefferson Davis; it would be Clint Johnson. In these pages; Johnson brings the mercurial Confederate President alive with a riveting and revealing narrative that sheds important new light on one of the pivotal figures in American history. Highly recommended." --Marc Leepson Author of Desperate Engagement; Flag: An American Biography; and Saving Monticello "Clint Johnson's Pursuit is a spellbinding tale of the last days of the Confederacy. The author's crisp prose and solid research give readers a riveting view of Jefferson Davis's last days in power." -- David J. Eicher; author of The Longest Night and Dixie Betrayed "Meticulously researched and well written." --Armchair Interviews
#1026605 in Books Gary L Ecelbarger 2016-10-05Original language:English 9.00 x .95 x 6.00l; .0 #File Name: 0806154993288 pagesSlaughter at the Chapel The Battle of Ezra Church 1864
Review
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful. Ezra Church--A bloody conflict for AtlantaBy Steven PetersonThis is a very well constructed analysis of a battle at Atlanta that is less well considered than other fights. Lengthy volumes on other battles at Atlanta--between the Union General William T. Sherman and Confederate Commander John Bell Hood--have appeared. I am less familiar with the battle at Ezra Church.General Hood wanted to consider applying pressure against Union forces. The order of battle (Appendix A) shows that this was a smaller scale conflict than some prior Atlanta engagements. Nonetheless the battle was very hard fought. Elements of three Union corps were engaged (Logan's; Dodge's; and Blair's). Southern forces included new corps commander's Stephen Lee (he improved in such command later--not so much here); Stewart's corps; and Wheeler's cavalry corps.The book tells the tale of southern forces trying to score a victory at Ezra Church. They suffered heavy casualties; attacking Union forces on higher ground and so on. Confederates ended up losing the engagement--at heavy cost. One more fight that presaged the Union forces taking Atlanta. . . .3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. A great history of a forgotten battle during the Atlanta CampaignBy BoozieOnce I started this book; I could not put it down. A great history of a forgotten battle during the Atlanta Campaign. I only wish the maps were bigger.5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. A Battle on Holy GroundBy Amanda WarrenGary Ecelbarger's study approaches the Battle of Ezra Church in a manner much appreciated by readers of Civil War history: a thorough; engaging treatment while offering a fresh viewpoint. Rather than echo past condemnation of Stephen Dill Lee; for example; he examines WHY Lee attacked in a piecemeal fashion. Without denying the terrible outcome; one now understands the general's reasoning on the ground under limited time and options in a highly fluid battle situation. As a reader I was thoroughly edified by Ecelbarger's nuanced and multi-sided analysis of the army leaders' decisions and actions: a great improvement over his book on the Battle of Atlanta in which (I felt) he accepted General Hood's version with insufficient criticism. Here; he does not let Hood off the hook; but again he does it in a measured way. If anyone could be said to be unquestionably lauded in this book; it is General Logan; but this comes off as well deserved.Slaughter at the Chapel delves into the intense; heartbreaking experiences of the soldiers who endured this battle; of whom many attested it to have been the hardest and hottest of the war. It is particularly moving to read how Federals in the works admired the Confederates for their extraordinary bravery and marveled at their self-sacrifice; particularly the Louisianans described as having "died in heaps." Even General Logan praised the Southerners' "desperate gallantry" at Ezra Church.This book is a beautifully written; worthy tribute to the supreme effort and sacrifice of life and limb that took place on a battlefield surrounding a church; making it doubly hallowed ground. The reader will be surely and deeply moved by the stories herein.
