Unionists In Virginia: Politics, Secession And Their Plan To Prevent Civil War

Synopsis

Whether The Civil War Was Preventable Is A Debate That Began Shortly After Appomattox And Continues Today. But Even Earlier, In 1861, A Group Of Union-loyal Virginians -- Led By George Summers, John Brown Baldwin, John Janney And Jubal Early -- Felt War Was Avoidable. In The Statewide Election For Delegates To The Secession Convention That Same Spring, The Unionists Defeated The Southern Rights Democrats With A Huge Majority Of The Votes Across The State. These Heroic Men Unsuccessfully Negotiated With Secretary Of State William Henry Seward To Prevent The National Tragedy That Would Ensue. Author And Historian Lawrence M. Denton Traces This Remarkable Story Of Virginians Working Against All Odds In A Failed Attempt To Save A Nation From War. Wait For Virginia -- The Presidential Election Of 1860 -- The Sea Change -- February, A Time Of Hope -- Beware The Ides Of March -- A State Beyond. Lawrence M. Denton. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 209-213) And Index.