This is mostly fiction based on historical fact. Where "1812, The Rivers of War" cleaved to recorded history, this continuation of the storyasks "what if" and answers it with conviction.It shows the Free Negro as being just as able and capable as anyone else, and takes to task the institution of slavery in the United States' south.John Brown makes a brief appearance here and is just as fire breathing as he was in real life. Other fictional characters are drawn from thepeople of the times and are convincing as such.Finally, this story shows how a demagogue President could embroil the country in a war that had no foundation in rightness or defense; simplywar as a political device for one particular philosophical viewpoint.This is both very entertaining and educational. I enjoyed it greatly.