The Pathfinder and the President John C. Frémont, Abraham Lincoln, and the Battle for Emancipation

In 1856, John C. Frémont-the famed "Pathfinder" of the American West-became the Republican Party's first presidential nominee on an anti-slavery platform. Five years later, now a Union general under President Lincoln, he sparked a national crisis by unilaterally declaring emancipation in Missouri. Drawing from extensive research, author John Bicknell masterfully chronicles the volatile relationship between these two leaders as they grappled with slavery, military strategy, and the future of the nation.
Reveals how Frémont's radical actions in Missouri influenced Lincoln's own path to the Emancipation ProclamationExplores the complex political and military dimensions of Civil War leadershipIlluminates the crucial role of border states in shaping Union strategyProvides fresh insights into the personal dynamics that affected wartime decision-making
From award-winning historian John Bicknell comes an essential new perspective on the Civil War era, acclaimed by scholars as "powerful," "engaging," and "distinctive." Perfect for readers of both Civil War history and political biography, this compelling narrative shows how the clash between Lincoln and Frémont helped determine the course of emancipation and the outcome of the war itself.