A Southern Star For Maryland: Maryland and the Secession Crisis [Paperback]

Lawrence M. Denton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 22, 2005

Maryland did not freely choose to remain in the Union at the outbreak of the Civil War, this book argues: the state was held by brute force. A colorful account of the dilemmas faced by Marylanders in the crisis as seen from the Southern point of view.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“A well-written and thoughtful production. I commend this book to anyone seriously interested in Maryland and the Civil War.”
Charles Branch Clark

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Publishing Concepts (March 22, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0963515942
• ISBN-13: 978-0963515940
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #581,109 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Keeping Maryland in the Union, August 22, 2000

By 

T. C. Ross (Washington, D.C.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Southern Star For Maryland: Maryland and the Secession Crisis (Paperback)

Although at times it sounds like a masters-level thesis, Denton's A Southern Star for Maryland is a decent overview of how Maryland reacted to Secession Fever and how the state was compelled to stay in the Union. Denton provides some interesting numbers and analysis to support his thesis that Marylanders were inclined to join the Confederacy, detailing the general pro-Southern nature of the state. He also does a good job of detailing the quick and effective (and often legally questionable) movement by federal officials and Union volunteers to squash pro-secession sentiments in the state.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Got everything right but Hicks, July 12, 2009

By 

Leon Lane "Jay" (Cambridge, Maryland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A southern star for Maryland: Maryland and the secession crisis, 1860-1861 (Hardcover)

The book is well written and factual. The author's treatment of Gov. Hicks, in my opinion is wrong. He presents Mr Hicks as slow and indecisive. Mr Hicks was an opportunist, prevaricator and scum. His complicity in the capture of Maryland is obvious from his subsequent appointment to the Senate, whilst all of the "Secesh" state and municipal office holders were jailed. I might also point out that Anna Ella Carroll was a good freind of his.
Otherwise, it's a well researched and prepared book and says things that need to be told. Unfortunately, in today's "PC" world, I wonder how many are listening.

5.0 out of 5 stars Marylands forgotten history, July 9, 2011

By 

Robert J. Rainey - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Southern Star For Maryland: Maryland and the Secession Crisis (Paperback)

As a arm chair history buff, I found this book well researched and written with plenty of back up notes. Written by a Johns Hopkins Faculty member lends it credit as well. The victor always writes history and sadly, Marylands history is slanted towards the northern view which is at odds with the facts. Had Maryland not been invaded, she would have left the union to join her sister states of the south. Thousands of her residents and politicians were seized by the northern troops and sent to prisons up north, the free press closed and personal property confiscated- all without warrants. Members of Francis Scott Keyes family were amoung those locked up. The Constitution and Bill of Rights were trampled asunder by the federal government and President Lincoln. Sadly, the government we have today is not the one established by our founding fathers but is a product of the military might of the northern states and their economic/political desires.