Daniel P Warner

The Clouds of War unveils the horrors that slavery and the civil war inflicted on our nation, using an escaped slave’s quest for freedom and justice, and gripping stories of men and women of the fictional Crump family.

This saga paints a vivid picture of pre-war turmoil in the border state of Kentucky through the eyes of a simple farming family, struggling to survive without slaves. As war descends upon them, their family divides in their loyalties. As his sisters secretly risk their lives and freedom in the Underground Railroad, Will Crump joins a southern militia group headed by John Morgan, to defend his state, even though he doesn’t condone slavery.

Meanwhile, the slave Luther’s mother and sisters are abused by their owners, and decide in the middle of the night to head north. When Albinia Crump notices her white friend’s slave in the streets, she risks everything to save his family. Luther’s riveting journey to free Ohio, only to be accosted by slave hunters, and Albinia’s dangerous romance with a famous abolitionist keep the pages turning.

Ross made me feel like I was there, engaging in the conversations, trying to decide the right paths forward, smelling the gunpowder at Shiloh, raiding with the famous Captain Morgan, nervously asking a father for permission to court his daughter, hiding in a false compartment in a buggy while slave patrols harassed, and experiencing the concentration-camp-like conditions of a Union prison camp.

Historical fiction is my favorite way to learn history, and the author’s research and accuracy was extensive. He brings the thoughts and customs of the time to life. Why would anyone who didn’t believe in slavery join the Confederacy? What rationalizations did slave owners use? What was it like to be a soldier during this war? How did the Underground Railroad shuttle slaves north, and then, were they really free? How were former slaves treated in the free states? How did people talk, and court each other for marriage? Just a few of the fascinating questions that you didn’t even know to ask that will be answered along the Crump family’s journey.

This book has some Christian themes as well – the characters are influenced by their beliefs. But if you aren’t religious, it is still worth the read. Ross doesn’t beat you over the head with his faith, and this is not a Pollyanna book. The characters are real; struggling with their faith and questioning where God is during this turmoil.

The book started a tad slow as Ross introduced the characters and the setting, but with every page I became more and more hooked. Keep reading – you won’t regret it.