Lincoln of Kentucky [Hardcover]

Lowell H. Harrison (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 6, 2000

"Young Abraham Lincoln and his family joined the migration over the Ohio River, but it was Kentucky--the state of his birth--that shaped his personality and continued to affect his life. His wife was from the commonwealth, as were each of the other women with whom he had romantic relationships. Henry Clay was his political idol; Joshua Speed of Farmington, near Louisville, was his lifelong best friend; and all three of his law partners were Kentuckians. During the Civil War, Lincoln is reputed to have said, ""I hope to have God on my side, but I must have Kentucky."" He recognized Kentucky's importance as the bellwether of the four loyal slave states and accepted the commonwealth's illegal neutrality until Unionists secured firm control of the state government. Lowell Harrison emphasizes the particular skill and delicacy with which Lincoln handled the problems of a loyal slave state populated by a large number of Confederate sympathizers. It was not until decades later that Kentuckians fully recognized Lincoln's greatness and paid homage to their native son.

Editorial Reviews

Review

""An interesting and convincing account that shows that Kentucky has a legitimate right to claim the rich legacy of perhaps our country's greatest president." --Bourbon Times" --

""A valuable addition to the great volume of work on one of our greatest presidents. It will please anyone interested in Lincoln, the Civil War or Kentucky history." --Bowling Green Daily News" --

""An excellent read that will fascinate." --Choice" --

"'Explains many of the lesser-known aspects of Lincoln, as well as his ties to Kentucky," --College Heights Herald" --

""Achieves its objectives by providing an interesting and highly readable account of the relationships between Lincoln, Kentucky, and the Kentuckians in an attractive volume that readers will enjoy." --Indiana Magazine of History" --

""An outstanding work that sheds new light, brings people and events alive, and provides the deeper understanding of the problems and challenges of Lincoln and Kentuckians in the Civil War." --James A. Ramage" --

""A readable and rewarding book." --Journal of American History" --

""This well-written volume will appeal to general readers who seek an introduction of the life of Abraham Lincoln and to how a border state fared during this national calamity." --Journal of Illinois History" --

""Harrison's close examination of Lincoln's wartime policies toward Kentucky helps to account for the state's ardent southern sympathy during Reconstruction, providing an ironic coda to the Lincoln-Kentucky connection." --Journal of Southern History" --

""Both the general reader and Kentucky historians will find the work of value in understanding not only Lincoln's association with Kentucky, but Kentucky's association with Lincoln." --Journal of the Jackson Purchase Historical Society" --

""Describes the ongoing relationship between this great president and his home state throughout his life." --Kentucky Living" --

""An enlightening perspective on both Abraham Lincoln and the state of his birth." --Kentucky Monthly" --

""A useful and authoritative study of Lincoln's relationship with his native state." --Lexington Herald-Leader" --

""Covers Lincoln's background in Kentucky and his lifelong association with the state of his birth in a professional and entertaining manner. His work is well researched." --Louisville Courier-Journal" --

""A fascinating and interesting account of Lincoln the boy, Lincoln the young man, Lincoln the politician, Lincoln the president, Lincoln the husband and father, and Lincoln the Kentuckian." --Louisville Voice-Tribune" --

""Shows that despite Kentucky's apparent wariness of Lincoln during his lifetime, the state can make a claim to his rich legacy." --McCormick (SC) Messenger" --

""A fresh story, told in an effective and uncluttered style that provides new depth and detail to many of the important issues raised by the Civil War." --Mississippi Review" --

"'You are a Kentuckian.' In crisp, lean prose, Harrison sets out precisely what the phrase meant for Lincoln's generation." --Register of the Kentucky Historical Society" --

""Stresses the state's continuing influence on Abe." --James Klotter, Lexington Herald-Leader" --

From the Publisher

"An outstanding work that sheds new light, brings people and events alive, and provides the deeper understanding of the problems and challenges of Lincoln and Kentuckians in the Civil War."--James A. Ramage

“A valuable addition to the great volume of work on one of our greatest presidents. It will please anyone interested in Lincoln, the Civil War or Kentucky history.”—Bowling Green Daily News

“An interesting and convincing account that shows that Kentucky has a legitimate right to claim the rich legacy of perhaps our country’s greatest president.”—Bourbon Times

“A fascinating and interesting account of Lincoln the boy, Lincoln the young man, Lincoln the politician, Lincoln the president, Lincoln the husband and father, and Lincoln the Kentuckian.”—Louisville Voice-Tribune

“Covers Lincoln’s background in Kentucky and his lifelong association with the state of his birth in a professional and entertaining manner. His work is well researched.”—Louisville Courier-Journal

“Shows that despite Kentucky’s apparent wariness of Lincoln during his lifetime, the state can make a claim to his rich legacy.”—McCormick (SC) Messenger

“This well-written volume will appeal to general readers who seek an introduction of the life of Abraham Lincoln and to how a border state fared during this national calamity.”—Journal of Illinois History

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 324 pages
• Publisher: The University Press of Kentucky (January 6, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0813121566
• ISBN-13: 978-0813121567
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 2.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,154,135 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Kentucky's Very Own Abraham Lincoln, January 22, 2012

By 

Studge "Studge" (Rahway, NJ) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Lincoln of Kentucky (Paperback)

In Lincoln of Kentucky, Professor Harrison focused attention on Lincoln and the relationship he had with his native birth state of Kentucky, both before and during the Civil War. Kentucky was unique in that it had ties to both North and South. Its economic ties to the South arose from its rivers and the institution of slavery. By 1860, with the advent of railroads, Kentucky became increasingly tied economically to the North. The majority of Kentuckians were Unionists, who opposed secession, but at the same time objected to any interference with the institution of slavery. They rejected Lincoln's proposal of voluntary, gradual emancipation with federal compensation, and their General Assembly did not ratify the Thirteenth Amendment until many years after it became part of the federal Constittion.

Lincoln exercised great skill and caution in reacting to Kentucky's declared neutrality, realizing how crucial this bellwether border state was to the Union war effort. If the Union lost Kentucky, Confederate forces could mount a defense along the Ohio River, make a military move northward to the Great Lakes and sever the Union. Lincoln believed that if Kentucky joined the Confederacy, the rest of the border states, particularly Missouri and Maryland, would fall into Confederate hands, and perhaps the war itself would be lost. During Kentucky's period of neutrality, Lincoln carefully bided his time, allowing Kentucky to carry on trade with Confederate states until the Unionists gained control of the General Assembly. Once the Unionists controlled the General Assembly, Kentucky's loyalty to the Union was ensured. In September, 1861, Confederate troops under General Pillow occupied Columbus, and Union troops under General Grant moved into Paducah. Kentucky's neutrality had ended and it was now a Union state.

Lincoln's problems with Kentucky did not end with the Unionists gaining control of the General Assembly. In 1862 to 1864, guerilla and Confederate raids in Kentucky, including those by John Hunt Morgan, had become so disruptive to Union communication and supply lines that Lincoln declared martial law and suspended the writ of habeas corpus. Military governors in Kentucky began to crack down on what they considered treasonous acivities by Confederate sympathizers, arresting and confiscating property of both loyal and disloyal citizens. Frequently, Lincoln would intervene to prevent abuses by military commanders. On the advice of trusted friends like Joshua and James Speed, he would pardon prisoners.

Professor Harrison also acquaints the reader with many of the prominant Kentuckians during the Civil War, including the Crittendens, Clays, Breckinridges and Joseph Holt, former secretary of war, and describes the respective roles they played during this critical time in Kentucky history.

Also noteworthy was the fact that after the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation up to 1864, there were 23,703 African Americans from Kentucky who enlisted in the Union Army, which was more than any slave state except for Lousiana. Slave owners in Kentucky were to receive up to $300.00 for each slave who enlisted.

Overall, it was a very informative book on Lincoln and his native birth state of Kentucky, both before and during the Civil War, with a fine collection of prints and photographs to boot.