A Vast and Fiendish Plot: The Confederate Attack on New York City

by Clint Johnson

New York City, November 25, 1864. Confederate officers attempt to destroy the city with a series of lethal fires that will forever diminish it to a mere speck of an island. What fueled these Southern patriots' rage? And what if they had succeeded? This terrifying scenario almost became a reality following what the New York Herald declared "a vast and fiendish plot." Infuriated by the Union's killing of their beloved General John Hunt Morgan and the burning of the Shenandoah Valley, eight Confederate officers swore revenge. Their Greek fire. Their Manhattan's commercial district. The daring mission could have changed the course of American history. In the first book to bring to life this bold conspiracy in full detail, Civil War expert Clint Johnson reveals shocking facts about the treacherous alliances and rivalries that threatened nineteenth-century America. Here is the truth about this stunning event, the spirit that fueled it, and the near destruction of the world's most influential city. "A fresh and intriguing addition to Civil War literature.... Johnson dispels myths and shows how Southerners sought to take revenge on a 'sister city' they felt betrayed them." -Brion McClanahan, author of The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Founding Fathers "Insightful analysis of an amazing turn of events that nearly set New York City ablaze during the Civil War." - David J. Eicher, author of The Longest Night

Genres: History, Civil War, Nonfiction

322 pages, Paperback

First published February 9, 2010

About the author

After writing about the American Civil War for 13 books, Clint chose another field of history: Naval History. He was inspired to write about naval destroyers after discovering the coincidences surrounding the sinking of USS Jacob Jones (DD-61) in WW I, and the USS Jacob Jones (DD-130) in WW II. DD-61 was the only U.S. warship sunk by enemy fire in WW I. DD-130 was the only U.S. warship lost in American territorial waters in WW II. TIN CANS & GREYHOUNDS: The Destroyers That Won Two World Wars covers the history of destroyers from 1874 through 1945 with a focus on U.S., Great Britain, Japan and Germany.

Clint lives in the mountains of North Carolina with his wife Barb.

Reviews

[Jason]

This is really 3.5 stars and part of the lower rating is because of the galley copy I read was a little rough.

I enjoyed this story and the way the author told the story through almost bullet points of moments in history. I want to read more of the authors work to get a better idea of his overall style and point of view. My only really complaint is with the ending. It just comes to a screeching halt with a question that leaves the reader with nowhere to go. Not cool.

[Will]

Johnson takes us through a meticulous account of the Confederate plot to burn New York, and the wider story of Confederate underground operations. He includes an analysis of why the arson plot failed, and exactly how they SHOULD have done it. I was compelled to ask: What if a time traveller from American Will Break (The Guns of the South) reads this and takes it back to 1864

[Clint Flatt]

This is a very interesting book on the Confederacy Secret Service, its members and reasonings. It talks much more about the people and events leading up the attack on New York city that the attack itself which leaves you to wonder if it had gone as planned would things after that point in the war be any different.

[dirt]

Learned Abe Lincoln pulled some jerk moves and had anyone against the war arrested as he suspended Habeas Corpus...

[Fredrick Danysh]

During the American Civil War following the murder of the unarmed Confederate General John Hunt Morgan by Union soldiers, a planned series of arson attacks were planned on Northern cities to include New York City. Besides an investigation into the plot, this work also gives a short biography of Morgan and a brief history of slavery in the United States with emphasis on the relationship between Southern planters and New York business. Here we have a look at a little written about event of the Civil War.

[Chris]

Should have been an article.