The Despot's Heel: An American Civil War Novel

Maryland was a pivotal state during the early days of America's Civil War. If she joined the South—as a majority of her legislators wished—Washington City would be surrounded by a Southern Confederacy. The loss to the Federal Union's prestige abroad could lead to a wave of diplomatic recognition for the Confederacy among the European powers. Similarly, the Federal Government's exiled status might have caused its constituent states to doubt the wisdom of prosecuting a Civl War, particularly after their army was decisively beaten at the battle of Bull Run near Washington City on July 21, 1861.The true story has never been told. . . until now. Even though a novel, nearly all the characters inThe Despot's Heelwere real people. While their fight for Maryland during 1861 was vicious, much of it was behind the scenes. The result was a camouflaged coup d'état. Although nearly bloodless, it did great violence to the Constitution. While Lincoln focused on his coup, a group of Confederates and Maryland guerrillas struck back with surgical precision in a secret escapade that nearly reversed the war's outcome. It also led to the only meeting between Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis.Read more