Review by Choice Review
During critical moments in US history, the government sometimes adopts undemocratic responses to national crises; this was evident during the 20th century. Far too many readers, however, forget about Abraham Lincoln's record in suppressing habeas corpus during the US Civil War. Although many traditional historians believe that the domestic threat posed by Northern Peace Democrats was exaggerated, Towne, an archivist at Indiana University-Purdue at Indianapolis, disagrees. His new study reveals that a genuine threat existed from Southern sympathizers living in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan. Relying on memoirs and military records, Towne depicts high-ranking Union officers as believing that a massive fifth column effort dedicated to a Confederate victory was operating in their states. Towne's narrative is a fascinating whodunit, with its vivid portrayal of Union commanders hiring questionable detectives in an effort to stymie the Knights of the Golden Circle, a loose collection of Confederate sympathizers in the Old Northwest. A valuable addition to any library seeking to upgrade its collection with a regional slant to the US Civil War. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All levels/libraries. --Christopher C. Lovett, Emporia State University
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
