A Vast and Fiendish Plot - by Clint Johnson (Paperback)

About the Book

Acclaimed Civil War expert Johnson offers this scorching, thrilling account of how an undercover team of Confederate officers tried to set fire to New York City in 1864--and nearly succeeded. 30 b&w photos throughout.

Book Synopsis

New York City, November 25, 1864. Confederate officers attempt to destroy the city with a series of lethal fires that will forever diminish it to a mere speck of an island. What fueled these Southern patriots' rage? And what if they had succeeded? This terrifying scenario almost became a reality following what the New York Herald declared "a vast and fiendish plot." Infuriated by the Union's killing of their beloved General John Hunt Morgan and the burning of the Shenandoah Valley, eight Confederate officers swore revenge. Their method: Greek fire. Their target: Manhattan's commercial district. The daring mission could have changed the course of American history. In the first book to bring to life this bold conspiracy in full detail, Civil War expert Clint Johnson reveals shocking facts about the treacherous alliances and rivalries that threatened nineteenth-century America. Here is the truth about this stunning event, the spirit that fueled it, and the near destruction of the world's most influential city. "A fresh and intriguing addition to Civil War literature.... Johnson dispels myths and shows how Southerners sought to take revenge on a 'sister city' they felt betrayed them." -Brion McClanahan, author of The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Founding Fathers "Insightful analysis of an amazing turn of events that nearly set New York City ablaze during the Civil War." - David J. Eicher, author of The Longest Night