In this magnificent new book, Stephen G. Yanoff offers a fresh and compelling portrait of William Henry Seward, one of the most important Americans of the nineteenth century. Seward, best known for the purchase of Alaska, also served as governor of New York, United States senator, and Lincoln’s secretary of state during the Civil War. Exhaustively researched, drawing on hundreds of sources, TURBULENT TIMES sheds new light on this complex historical figure and the crucial role he played in shaping the fate of our nation. Most enlightening, the William Henry Seward who comes into focus in this superb narrative is a person of great intellect and curiosity, comfortable with ambiguity in his personal and private life. STEPHEN G. YANOFF is a former insurance company executive from Long Island, New York. He worked in Manhattan for over twenty years and became an acknowledged expert in the field of high risk insurance. He is the author of the highly acclaimed history book, THE SECOND MOURNING, the winner of five prestigious awards for "Best U.S. History Book of the Year." He now lives in Austin, Texas, with his wife and two daughters. Turbulent Times The Remarkable Life of William H. Seward By STEPHEN G. YANOFF AuthorHouse Copyright © 2017 Stephen G. Yanoff All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-1-5246-8558-4 Contents CHAPTER 1 The Accident, 1, CHAPTER 2 A Willing Assassin, 11, CHAPTER 3 Night of Terror, 19, CHAPTER 4 Early Years, 29, CHAPTER 5 Albany, 39, CHAPTER 6 Abolitionist Fervor, 49, CHAPTER 7 In Sickness and in Health, 59, CHAPTER 8 A Death in the Family, 67, CHAPTER 9 Political Comeback, 77, CHAPTER 10 Governor Seward, 87, CHAPTER 11 Second Term, 95, CHAPTER 12 Private Life, 109, CHAPTER 13 Seward for the Defense, 117, CHAPTER 14 Manifest Destiny, 127, CHAPTER 15 The Hero of Buena Vista, 135, CHAPTER 16 A Higher Law, 145, CHAPTER 17 Peace Over Slavery, 155, CHAPTER 18 Senator Seward, 165, CHAPTER 19 Popular Sovereignty, 175, CHAPTER 20 Buchanan's Mess, 185, CHAPTER 21 An Irrepressible Conflict, 213, CHAPTER 22 "Off With His Head!", 223, CHAPTER 23 "Lincoln Nominated", 233, CHAPTER 24 Secretary Seward, 245, CHAPTER 25 Mr. Seward's Little Bell, 255, CHAPTER 26 Diplomat & Politician, 265, CHAPTER 27 Saving the Union, 275, CHAPTER 28 The Ugliness of War, 285, CHAPTER 29 Lincoln Re-elected, 297, CHAPTER 30 Good Friday, 307, CHAPTER 31 The Man in the Light Overcoat, 317, CHAPTER 32 Standing Trial, 327, CHAPTER 33 Prayers and Punishment, 337, CHAPTER 34 More Sadness, 347, CHAPTER 35 Reconstruction, 359, CHAPTER 36 Seward's Folly, 367, CHAPTER 37 Stubborn as a Mule, 379, CHAPTER 38 Articles of Impeachment, 389, CHAPTER 39 The Reno Gang, 399, CHAPTER 40 Tragedy and Triumph, 411, CHAPTER 1 The Accident William Henry Seward came from good Welsh stock and was reasonably healthy, so the thought of dying suddenly - in a violent fashion - had no specific reason to cross his mind. However, these were turbulent times, and premature death was not uncommon. In 1865, America was still at war with itself, and after four years of fighting, 600,000 soldiers had lost their lives. The odds of dying in combat were 1 in 15. The odds of dying in a freak accident were much lower. But in this day and age anything was possible. On April 5, 1865, at about four o'clock in the afternoon, Secretary of State Seward nearly broke his neck in a freak carriage mishap. Incredibly, it was not the first time that he had fallen off a horse-drawn conveyance, but on this occasion he came very close to death. As his carriage left the State Department, the driver was instructed to travel from Pennsylvania Avenue to the Seward residence on Madison Avenue, adjacent to Lafayette Park. Seward had intended a family ride, and as usual, he sat outside the carriage body in order to smoke cigars. Upon arrival, he was joined by his son, Frederick, his daughter, Fanny, and a family friend named Mary Titus. The group filed into the carriage one by one, anticipating a long leisurely ride through the city of Washington. While the coachman, Henry Key, was attempting to close the door with one hand, the horses jerked forward, spooked by his actions. Key held onto the reins, desperately trying to stop them, but their combined force was too much for him. Sensing danger, Frederick jumped from the carriage and tried to head off the horses. Fanny Seward, who was sitting in the back seat, later recorded the incident in her diary, writing that "the horses turned around with a rapid sweep and went on increasing their speed. Father had some idea of being able to stop them, and sprang from the carriage in spite of my entreaties that he not jump. I could not see whether he reached the ground safely or not." In fact, Seward landed on his right arm, breaking it just below the shoulder. Knocked senseless, he gradually came to realize that he had also injured his neck and lower jaw, which would prove to be broken. Writhi