Pathfinder and the President

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

John Bicknell

• Publisher: Stackpole Books
• Year: 2025
• eBook ISBN: 9780811776660
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: Military Biographies
• Index: History

Two towering figures of American history collide in this riveting account of how the struggle between Lincoln and his defiant general John C. Frémont shaped the Civil War and emancipation.

"... a masterwork of history. . .Bicknell deftly interweaves Frémont's story with the grander narrative of the war and Abraham Lincoln's presidency." -Jon D. Schaff, author of Abraham Lincoln's Statesmanship and the Limits of Liberal Democracy.

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 Proclamation
• Explores the complex political and military dimensions of Civil War leadership
• Illuminates the crucial role of border states in shaping Union strategy
• Provides 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.

"Bicknell's flair for tightly rendered historical storytelling sits atop a foundation of sweeping research in this powerful tale. . .A colorful and distinctive narrative." -Robert W. Merry, author of Decade of Disunion

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Contents
• Maps
• Introduction
• Prologue: “We all saw war ahead”
• Chapter One: “Great confusion and indecision in affairs”
• Chapter Two: “Making bricks without straw”
• Chapter Three: “If he fights, he will do it upon his own responsibility”
• Chapter Four: “To strike at cause as well as consequence”
• Chapter Five: “A blank page of our history waiting for Frémont’s name”
• Chapter Six: “To strike some decided blow against the enemy”
• Chapter Seven: “A jackass you can’t guide at all”
• Chapter Eight: “Frémont seems to be effectually laid upon the shelf”
• Chapter Nine: “The whole future of our Republic depends on the result”
• Epilogue: “History dwells on results”
• Acknowledgments
• Notes
• Bibliography
• About the Author 3