Daredevils Of the Confederate Army

[Gene C]

The full title is "Daredevils of the Confederate Army - The Story of The St. Albans Raiders" by Oscar Kinchen.
Written in 1959, about 150 pages. No footnotes, bibliography is a bit lacking. No maps, drawings or photographs. My copy was a well done reprint. The raid is an interesting event in history, unfortunately, the book just doesn't tell the story very well.

About 2/3 of the book has to do with the trial of the raiders, and the legal positions each side takes.
If you have a legal background or are interested in international law, you might find this interesting. (I don't, and I didn't - much)
There is an eight page chapter, The Messengers", which has to do with the attempt by the raiders lawyer's to get documentation from Confederate officials in Richmond to verify the raiders were acting under their authority and approval for the St. Alban's Raid. Unfortunately, for Sara Slater fans, there is not much here. What is here is a bit confusing. (More on that later in a Sara Slater thread to be named at a later date) There are many interesting details, but the actual raid, escape and capture of the raiders only takes about 30 pages.

The Rev. Stephen Cameron is mentioned as well as a book he wrote on the Confederate Secret Service, of which I have been unable to find on the internet, and the author fails to include in his bibliography.

There is more information on Bennett Young, including quotes from his court testimony, his marriage in 1866 at Niagara Falls to Mattie Robinson of Kentucky, and life a few years later when he returns to KY.

Here are a few interesting details from the book -
- Jacob Thompson and Clement Clay are sent to Canada by Jefferson Davis "to carry out such instructions as you have received verbally, in such a matter as may seem most likely to conduct the furtherance of the Confederate States of America", (pretty vague instructions). Upon arrival in Canada, they deposit three quarters of a million dollars in the Bank of Toronto, in May of 1864.

- "Greek Fire" had been used with considerable effect when several river boats at St. Louis were burned in early summer of 1864.

- Prior to the St. Albans raid, Bennett Young was a student at the University of Toronto to continue his theological studies in preparation for a career in the ministry.

- Quotes from Bennett Young's speech before the court as to why he raided St. Albans. (anyone want me to post his comments?)

- and, "According to Young's own account which he related to some of his Canadian friends while a prisoner at Montreal, his neighborhood in Jasmine County was raided and plundered by a band of Union troops at the outbreak of the war, and a young lady who was to be his future bride was the victim of an outrageous insult by federal troops, the shock having led to her untimely death after a lingering illness of several weeks. Burdened with grief and longing for vengeance, he hastened to enlist in the Confederate forces in his state.

- Young was among 2,500 raiders (cavalry) who were captured at the time of Hunt's famous raid into Ohio in mid-summer 1863. He was removed to Camp Doulas, near Chicago and escaped early autumn of the same year.

The book is OK, with some shortcomings. I was lucky, and able to find a new reprint for less than $5 from Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/Daredevils-Confed...erate+army