Politics, Friendship, or Greed? Which of these was the true author of the Confederate conspiracy to decapitate the Union?
The Absolution of Mars by T.F. Troy is a masterful blend of historical fiction, human drama and moral exploration. Set against the backdrop of a racially fraught period in American history, the story does not back away from the harsh realities or racial biases of the day.
The narrative introduces Jemm Pender, a former slave with a superior intellect, who rises to become a key agent in the National Detective Police Force. Jemm is tasked to trace the movements of J. W. Boyd, a Confederate spy working out of Canada.
From its intriguing opening scene, where playful dialogue among children hints at deeper mysteries, the story captivates with a blend of vivid detail and emotional depth. Jemm's quest intertwines with his wife Marnie and Aunt Cordelia, both blessed with remarkable capabilities that are being lost to the scientific thought of the day.
Troy tackles difficult topics with honesty and precision, creating moments that are as painful as they are profound. The prose is rich and evocative, with dialogue that breathes life into the characters and their struggles. The Absolution of Mars is a poignant, thought-provoking exploration of history, identity, and humanity, recommended for readers seeking depth and nuance.
Book Title: The Absolution of Mars
Series: n/a
Author: T.F. Troy
Publication Date: January 21st, 2025
Publisher: Historium Press
Pages: 302
Genre: Historical Fiction, American Civil War Spy Novel
Excerpt
“But it was a plot in September of 1864, a plot that also ultimately failed, that really put us on edge, but I had forgotten about it, because I wasn’t involved,” says Jemm. “This time, however, the conspirators and spies got away—as well as a very precious cargo that no one wanted to talk about. It may provide another powerful link between Booth and Boyd.”
In September of 1864, Jemm says, Confederate spies working from Canada had attempted to capture the U.S.S. Michigan on Lake Erie, at 450 tons, the largest gunboat on the Great Lakes, to free more than 2,000 Confederate officers held at Johnson’s Island in Sandusky’s Bay.
“The Michigan would easily give the Copperheads, the Sons of Liberty and Knights of the Golden Circle control of all the Great Lakes, opening up a supply chain through Canada while giving the Secesh a Northwest front complete with 2,000 Confederate officers,” adds Jemm.
The plan was to commandeer a sidewheel steamer out of Sandwich Island on the Canadian side as she made her usual run to Sandusky. Then the pirates would take over the Michigan sitting in Sandusky Bay with the help of a Capt. Cole, a Confederate Captain posing as an oil baron who was on board the Michigan.
“I suspect that whatever happened in February, was somehow related to the ill-fated attempt to take the Michigan.”
“But the plan failed?” Lt. Henry asks.
“Turns out the redoubtable Captain Cole was also one of our men,” Jemm says. “So if they went through with it, we would have captured the whole lot.”
“So they got spooked again?”
“No, this time there was some sort of mutiny among the pirates,” Jemm explains. “The crew on the Michigan wrongly thought Cole had tipped off the pirates, and he was arrested. But according to eyewitness testimony, they found something of value on the sidewheel steamer and their plans abruptly changed. They also took possession of a ‘special cargo’ as near as I can tell from the report.”
Nobody officially knew what it was, but it sure pissed off Secretary Stanton to no end. From that day forward, Stanton took a very special interest in the workings of Confederates running operations out of Montreal and Toronto, including a man named Jacob Thompson, who was rumored to have a bank account of at least $600,000 to fund operations, as well as access to other funds that could amount to 40 percent or more of the Confederacy’s treasury.
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T F Troy
A student of the American Civil War, T.F. Troy has an award-winning journalism career spanning more than 40 years. He currently serves as Executive Editor of Cleveland Magazine’s Community Leader as well as the Editor of Ohio Business Magazine. He also writes features for Northern Kentucky Magazine and Dayton Magazine, among other regional publications. His work with those publications has won him numerous awards, taking first, second and third place in Ohio for Magazine Feature Writing. Troy’s work has appeared in major metropolitan daily newspapers including the Cleveland Plain Dealer and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
In addition to the previously mentioned publications, Troy also held positions as a Senior Editor for both ABC/Capital Cities and ICD Publications in New York. His work has appeared in numerous national consumer and trade periodicals throughout his career. In his first book Cleveland Classics: Great Tales from the North Coast, Troy interviewed local and national Cleveland celebrities such as: Jim Brown, Bob Feller, Patricia Heaton and Arsenio Hall among others. The Absolution of Mars, set just after the Civil War, is his first novel, but third book.
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Thank you so much for hosting T.F. Troy today, with his intriguing novel, The Absolution of Mars.
ReplyDeleteTake care,
Cathie xx
The Coffee Pot Book Club