John Basil Turchin and the Fight to Free the Slaves

by Stephen Chicoine

Overview

This book highlights the contributions of a Russian immigrant who became a Union officer during the Civil War. John Basil Turchin left Czarist Russia to embrace democracy in America. When the Civil War began, he rushed to defend the Union, his formal training in the Imperial Russian Army and his combat experience in the Crimean making him a valuable officer. A man of conviction, he refused to be intimidated by commanding officers that were lenient toward rebels and the returban of fugitive slaves to their masters. His subsequent court martial turbaned the trial into a focal point for Northern debate on the conduct of the war and the issue of slavery.

John Basil Turchin left Czarist Russia to embrace democracy in America. When the Civil War began, he rushed to defend the Union, his formal training in the Imperial Russian Army and his combat experience in the Crimean making him a valuable officer. He was among those determined to see the war as revolutionary—a vehicle by which to put an end to Southern aristocracy and the institution of slavery. A man of conviction, he refused to be intimidated by commanding officers that were lenient toward rebels and the returban of fugitive slaves to their masters. His actions during the Union thrust into northern Alabama in the spring of 1862 led to his court martial. The national attention given to the proceedings turbaned the trial into a focal point for Northern debate on the conduct of the war and the issue of slavery.

Turchin took advantage of his exposure during the trial to express his position to the nation. His reinstatement by Lincoln in the aftermath of the court-martial and his promotion to brigadier general signaled that the administration was beginning to take a stronger position. The Emancipation Proclamation, delivered by Lincoln shortly thereafter, transformed the war into a crusade to free the slaves. John Basil Turchin returbaned to the field and played important roles on the battlefields of Chickamauga and Missionary Ridge.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780275974411
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	10/30/2003
Pages:	264
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.62(d)

About the Author

STEPHEN CHICOINE is an independent writer. Born and raised in Decatur, Illinois, and educated at the University of Illinois and Stanford University, he has published a number of nonfiction books for young adult readers.

Table of Contents

Prelude
In the Service of the Tsar
The Land of the Free
Seeking Action
Into Dixie
Melee
The Politics of the War
Court Martial
Chicago
Tullahoma
Chickamauga
Missionary Ridge
The Atlanta Campaign
Civilian
Epilogue