The Demon of Unrest: A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak, and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War

An appeal to the better angels of our nature…
At a time when our nation is perilously divided, Erik Larson publishes “The Demon of Unrest” and strikes a note of warning. He authors another winning work of narrative nonfiction detailing the events following the 1860 presidential election that propelled Abraham Lincoln to the White House and ushered in America’s cataclysmic descent into civil war. Additionally, he brilliantly animates the famous characters of this period (Buchanan, Lincoln, Seward, and Davis) and lesser names such as Edmund Ruffin, James Hammond, and Mary Chesnut of the Southern planter aristocracy. Strikingly, the latter, products of generational slave ownership and owning as many as 400 slaves, vociferously and unashamedly champion the cause of slavery. Larson’s narrative serves as a cautionary tale, reminding us of the dangers of division and the importance of unity in our current social and political climate.From his extensive research, the author quotes from speeches, letters, diary entries, and other period documents revealing unapologetic pro-slavery sentiment. Through these Southerners’ thoughts and comments, we learn just how, like Kudzu, slavery became wildly entwined with Southern culture. No matter how inexplicable or indefensible their position might be today, in the mid-19th century, these Americans believed it was their birthright to continue owning other human beings in the name of tradition and because slavery was so much a part of the Southern culture and rural economy. More importantly, with “The Demon of Unrest,” Larson sheds light on how charged the issue of slavery was in the years leading up to Lincoln’s election and, therefore, how inevitable secession would become.As always, the author’s character development is first-rate. Perhaps best of all is his treatment of Major Robert Anderson, a career U.S. Army officer and one of the central characters appearing throughout “The Demon of Unrest.” Anderson, the Fort Sumter, South Carolina commander, and gallant American patriot of the first order, became one of the early heroes of this period. We witness his painstaking preparations to fortify Fort Sumter, a U.S. Army garrison and initial Union stronghold, key terrain in the middle of Charleston Harbor and the annals of U.S. history. He and his charges remain alone on an island, steadfastly defending American ideals. Their challenge becomes existential on April 12, 1861, when the Confederates bombard the fort and two days later force its surrender to start the war.Claiming three-quarters of a million lives, the American Civil War, or the War Between the States, was a watershed event, the legacy with which we, as Americans, still live today. In addition to the author’s signature ability to capture the mood of a particular period or incident in history, Larson fans will recognize his trademark emphasis on meticulously mining historical documents to bring the story to life, for instance, capturing seemingly insignificant comments and minor actions of the characters so that we see that they, like us, were fully human. In detailing their activities, Larson transports us to an earlier age during which honor and chivalry in the Antebellum South held sway. Then, negotiations deadlocked, both sides determined not to move off their hardened positions, the nation tilts to war, and we readers have a ringside seat. The author helps us see firsthand how the Civil War, which resulted in more than 600,000 casualties over four years, was virtually a foregone conclusion.Larson writes fluidly but concisely, some chapters only a few pages long, and his sturdy vocabulary challenges readers to be Merriam-Webster-ready. His strength is pacing; he allows events to unfold in a way that captures the reader’s attention and holds it transfixed for page after page. Like all his books, “The Demon of Unrest” reads like the story is happening in real-time. Larson achieves his objective; he sounds the alarm that another collapse into chaos is not far-fetched. Unrest in America is mounting.One reads “The Demon of Unrest” with his mouth agape, incredulous that these events happened and could happen again. Worry, anxiety, and fear grip the nation today just as they did in the deeply divided America of 1861. South Carolina, specifically Charleston, became ground zero for American turning on American and friend becoming foe. A charming U.S. city seemingly overnight morphed into a powder keg.Indeed, 1861 brought us a national Hatfield-McCoy moment, the American family riven by disagreement and debate. When considering our shrill and uncompromising public discourse and eroding confidence in U.S. government institutions today, readers of “The Demon of Unrest” can appreciate how easily the situation could devolve into another armed conflict.Above all else, Larson’s “The Demon of Unrest” reminds Americans that we must, in Abraham Lincoln’s words, “appeal to the better angels of our nature.”

A detailed account of the lead up to the beginning our Civil War and the fall of Ft. Sumter
The Demon of Unrest, by Erik Larson, tells the story of the events leading up to the beginning of the American Civil War. The book covers the period from 1807 until the surrender of Ft Sumter in April 1861, but most of the story covers the events from the election of President Lincoln in November 1860 until the surrender.The story is very detailed and is based on diaries, journals, correspondence and news reports during this time.Larson identifies the leading proponents of secession: James Henry Hammond, of South Carolina, owner of over 300 slaves, and Edmund Ruffin, of Virginia. Larson also notes the raid on Harper’s Ferry by John Brown in 1859 and the effect it had on the entire south on the subject of secession.The story then goes on to the period from Lincoln’s election to the fall of Fort Sumter.Starting with South Carolina’s first debate on secession through the act itself on December 20, 1860, and their intent to seize all federal property and arms in the state, the fate of Fort Sumter was a major dilemma. Situated in the center of Charleston harbor it controlled ingress and egress to Charleston. South Carolina, considering themselves an independent nation, sent a delegation to Washington to negotiate relinquishing the fort to South Carolina; however, even President Buchanan knew formally negotiating with South Carolina would be seen as recognizing their independence. Throughout the whole crisis Buchanan did nothing decisive wishing to leave the crisis to the new President after he was inaugurated on March 4.Meanwhile, South Carolina, joined by the other states as they seceded, were building and fortifying batteries surrounding Fort Sumter.Even after Lincoln’s inauguration confusion, misunderstood orders and uncertainty of what action to take delayed any attempt to reinforce and resupply the fort; even when an attempt was finally made in April confusion on who had the authority to assign the navy ships to the mission meant that the Powhatan, the most powerful warship in the Navy, did not take part in the expedition.The relief fleet arrived too late to save the fort.This was an excellent, detailed and long account of the events leading up to the beginning of our Civil War. All of the important people leading up to this crisis were identified and their roles explained. This book is worth reading for those who want to know how to avoid such a crisis in the future.

Larson does a great job of developing the history of Lincoln’s first election, the transfer of power issues and the beginnings of secession as well as the depth of slavery in the South and the history of the focal point that was Ft. Sumter and the beginnings of the civil war. Larson is an excellent writer and this is on par with his other works.

A passionate writer who makes you fall in love with every single one of his books. This one in particular, though a difficult subject, is brilliantly executed and makes you want to dig deeper and read up on the Civil War.