Warriors for Liberty Reviews
“Warriors for Liberty is a multifaceted gem that sparkles with both the individual story of the remarkable, formerly enslaved William Dollarson and the collective story of resistance to slavery in antebellum Michigan. It illuminates Dollarson’s extraordinary fight against American slavery, which began with his own escape from enslavement, continued as he built a life for himself and his family, and intensified when war came and the elderly man risked his own life and family’s security to join the military destruction of slavery by serving as a Union Army cook. Moreover, Warriors for Liberty roots Dollarson’s story of conviction and resistance in a rich antebellum history of abolitionism and free Black activism in Michigan.”
“Well written and very impressive. Citing sources is very important for historians, and the Michigan Civial War Association has done an excellent job here.”
“A marvelous saga of courage, Warriors for Liberty recalls to life the story of William Dollarson, a self-emancipated Black Virginian who rose to become the leader of Detroit’s Black community before risking his life by serving in slaveholding Maryland or near Confederate lines while on the staff of General Alpheus S. Williams. Exhaustively researched and extremely well-written.”
“Warriors for Liberty shines a light on the stories of Black Michiganders during the Civil War – stories of immense bravery, heroism, and patriotism that have long been unsung. A valuable resource for researchers, educators, and Michigan history enthusiasts, it is also engaging and inspirational, a chance to glimpse the diverse lives of soldiers, officers, abolitionists, and countless everyday people who risked everything for freedom.”