John Frémont’s 100 Days

Clashes and Convictions in Civil War Missouri

Gregory Wolk

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Paperback

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English

Missouri Historical Society Press
12 December 2025

Biography: historical, political & military; History of the Americas; Modern history to 20th century: c 1700 to c 1900; American Civil War

The first book-length study of John Frémont's time in Missouri written since the Civil War, revealing the story of the first enslaved person ever set free by military order of the United States and exploring six campaigns in the Trans-Mississippi theater.

For one hundred days in 1861, John Frémont was the general in charge of the United States Army’s Western Department, an enormous territory that included the state of Illinois and all the states—and prospective states—that lay west of Illinois to the Rockies. Frémont arrived at his St. Louis headquarters in late July, setting into motion three tumultuous months that would see him declare martial law, emancipate two enslaved men, and give rise to one of the Civil War's most respected figures, Ulysses S. Grant.

At the heart of Gregory Wolk's John Frémont’s 100 Days: Clashes and Convictions in Civil War Missouri are the military campaigns and battles that took place in the state while Frémont was in command, including at Wilson's Creek, as well as the campaigns that resulted in the battles of Lexington and Fredericktown. The book culminates in the stunning cavalry charge made by Major Charles Zagonyi in Springfield in October 1861, an ultimately tragic and unnecessary affair brought on by a combination of hubris and political backstabbing.

Also central to John Frémont’s 100 Days are members of the Blair family, influential men who had the ear of President Abraham Lincoln. Although they were responsible for Fremont's rise to power, their allegiance quickly turned. John Frémont's wife, Jessie Benton Blair—an intelligent, passionate defender of her husband and of equal rights for enslaved persons—was another driving force behind many of Frémont's most consequential actions. The theme running through it all is the battle for emancipation. This remarkable story will appeal to Civil War enthusiasts and general readers alike.

By: Gregory Wolk
Imprint: Missouri Historical Society Press
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 229mm, Width: 152mm, Spine: 13mm
Weight: 399g
ISBN: 9798985571653
Pages: 216
Publication Date: 12 December 2025
Audience: College/higher education , Further / Higher Education
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Gregory Wolk is a retired civil trial lawyer and the author of Friend and Foe Alike: A Tour Guide to Missouri's Civil War. He has written extensively about all facets of the Civil War in Missouri and is a regular contributor to Missouri Humanities Magazine. Wolk is the former executive director of Missouri's Civil War Heritage Foundation and is currently the executive director of the National US Grant Trail Association, based at Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis.

Reviews for John Frémont’s 100 Days: Clashes and Convictions in Civil War Missouri

“Wolk’s meticulously researched narrative is a fascinating read, filled with the tortuous machinations of politics, personalities, and the military maelstrom of moral conflict and the fortunes of war.” * Military Heritage * ""Gregory Wolk’s chronicle of John C. Frémont’s tumultuous leadership during the initial months of the Civil War in Missouri is nothing short of captivating. The author seamlessly fuses rigorous historical research with vibrant storytelling, offering readers a front-row seat to the chaos and complexity of wartime command. This book is a must-read for enthusiasts of American history or the military decision-making process. It broadens our understanding of Civil War Missouri and highlights the enduring relevance of Frémont’s brief but consequential command."" * LTC Rob Mellon, US Army Field Artillery Officer * ""John Frémont’s 100 Days tells the tale of the early months of the Civil War in Missouri, highlighting the state’s role as a focal point in the growing fight and Frémont’s bold and controversial leadership of the Army’s Department of the West. Gregory Wolk’s book is a must for everyone interested in Missouri or Civil War history."" * Andy Hahn, Director, Campbell House Museum, and author of Mapping St. Louis *