Lincoln's Bold Lion: The Life and Times of Brigadier General Martin Davis Hardin

This is the first biography devoted to the life of a remarkable young man who, in the words of Civil War historian Ezra Warner, €œembarked upon a combat career which has few parallels in the annals of the army for gallantry, wounds sustained, and the obscurity into which he had lapsed a generation before his death.€

But the story of General Martin Hardin provides more than a combat record€•in fact comprises a walking tour through 1800s America, with its most costly war only a centerpiece. From his childhood in Illinois, where a slave girl implanted in him a fear of ghosts, to his attendance at West Point, along with other future luminaries, to his service on the frontier (where he took particular note of the bearing of the Cheyenne), Hardin€s life reveals the progress of a century.

Abraham Lincoln was a close friend and political ally of Martin€s father, who died a hero in the Mexican War. The family were also relatives of Mary Todd. Made Brigadier General at age 27, Hardin fought with distinction at Malvern Hill, Second Manassas, Gettysburg, Grant€s Overland Campaign, and the July 1864 Rebel raid on Washington. He was wounded four times, nearly died on two occasions, and lost an arm during the war. On one occasion he was ambushed on a road by Mosby€s men, one of whom may have been Lincoln conspirator Lewis Paine. Hardin himself took part in the hunt for John Wilkes Booth after Lincoln€s assassination.

In these pages we also learn the prominent role of General Hardin€s mother, who acted as her son€s lobbyist in the heady social world of wartime Washington. Over four years, she skillfully played upon her friendship with the President and the First Lady to advance her son€˜s career. Although, as we see in these pages, his gallantry and leadership in combat sufficed enough to earn him renown, and in this book the under-sung exploits of a true 19th-century hero are finally revealed.

REVIEWS

"A fascinating account of a truly remarkable young man; students of Civil War period history will find this particularly interesting, and the writing draws you into this young man's life with ease."
Books Monthly
Anyone who is interested in the Civil War will surely want to read Lincoln's Bold Lion, but locals will also enjoy the riveting tale that connected a decorated Civil War general to Henry Flagler's elite Southern tourist haven."

St Augustine Register


Author James T. Huffstodt has brought Hardin back from the lengthy ranks of the overlooked and ignored Civil War generals. His fascinating new book, Lincoln's Bold Lion: The Life and Times of Brigadier General Martin Davis Hardin, breaks new ground into the life of the boyish brigadier and examines his relationship with the 16th president of the United States. Huffstodt, an Illinois native is an award-winning writer who currently lives in Tallahassee, Florida. He brings his ample research and writing skills to the forefront in this well-written, fast-paced biography...Huffstodt has brought General Hardin's memory back to life for the modern reader in this entertaining and comprehensive biography. It is an interesting narrative, replete with human interest stories and vignettes from Hardin's life, as well as from his father's and other family members. This is an excellent addition to the bookshelf of anyone interested in Union generals, as well as to those interested in reading about one of Lincoln's friendships that is not often discussed.
York Daily Record


€˜€¦Huffstodt must be applauded for restoring Hardin to his rightful place as a heroic patriot €¦ A highly recommended read.€
History of War Magazine (April 2016)