From Underground Railroad to Rebel Refuge
Publisher: ECW Press
Shipping dimensions: 9" H x 6" W x 1" L
ISBN: 9781770416383
Filled with engaging stories and astonishing facts, From Underground Railroad to Rebel Refuge: Canada and the Civil War examines the role of Canadians in the American Civil War
Despite all we know about the Civil War, its causes, battles, characters, issues, impacts, and legacy, few books have explored Canada’s role in the bloody conflict that claimed more than 600,000 lives.
A surprising 20,000 Canadians went south to take up arms on both sides of the conflict, while thousands of enslaved people, draft dodgers, deserters, recruiters, plotters, and spies fled northward to take shelter in the attic that is Canada. Though many escaped slavery and found safety through the Underground Railroad, they were later joined by KKK members wanted for murder. Confederate President Jefferson Davis along with several of his emissaries and generals found refuge on Canadian soil, and many plantation owners moved north of the border.
Award-winning journalist Brian Martin will open eyes in both Canada and the United States to how the two countries and their citizens interacted during the Civil War and the troubled times that surrounded it.
Josiah and Nancy Henson
St. Andrew’s Church, built 1859, South Buxton
Jefferson and Varina Davis
MEDIA
Author Brian "Chip" Martin joins Dan to discuss his new book, "From Underground Railroad to Rebel Refuge".
Interview with Dan Mailer, with London Luminaries
London Lights sees host Dan Mailer talk with London luminaries, people who have made a big impact in the world of music, entertainment, sports, politics, and more.
Canada and the Civil War: Opening Eyes in Niagara and Beyond
Presentation by Brian Martin on February 22, 2023 for the Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum.
Confederates in Niagara
Rogers TV interview on Niagara Your TV.
REVIEWS
*Silver Medal Winner. Independent Publisher Book Awards, 2023
*Bronze Medal Winner. Foreword Indies Book Awards, 2022
*Nominated for Frederick Douglass Book Prize, 2023
*Nominated for Gilder Lehrman Lincoln Prize, 2022
This is a fascinating history of the relationship between Canada, the U.S., and the Confederacy. Initially, as part of the British Empire, Canada had outlawed slavery earlier and thus had some sympathy for the Federal cause. Later, especially as there sprung up beliefs in annexation by the United States, Canada drifted toward cohesion, closer ties with Britain, and became a home to CSA plots, recruits, and veterans.
--Tom Schulte, Goodreads
“This should be obligatory reading for serious Civil War, Canadian and international history buffs.” — The Passionate Reader blog
“Several good books have been written about Canadians in the Civil War. But the story of how Canada was a Confederate base and refuge during and after the Civil War was a black hole. Not anymore.” — Mark Bourrie, award-winning author of Bush Runner: The Adventures of Pierre-Esprit Radisson
“Martin offers a well-researched and lively account, rich with fascinating characters and sparkling anecdotes. He skillfully explores an important era in Canada’s development when it banned slavery, offered sanctuary to those escaping it, played significant roles in the Civil War that was fought to end it, and later provided asylum to Confederates who had battled to keep it.” — John Boyko, author of Blood and Daring: How Canada Fought the American Civil War and Forged a Nation
“This book will make armchair historians head for the easy chair tonight. From Underground Railroad to Rebel Refuge will introduce you to a new set of heroes and villains. And if your goal is to learn more about American history, this book about Canada will get you right on track.” — The Miami Times
“Martin’s book is fast-paced, informative, jaw-dropping and revelatory. It’s a non-fiction volume that reads at times like a thriller, with each chapter leaving you waiting for the surprises to come in the next.” — The Niagara-on-the-Lake Local