New Books Network Brian Martin, "From Underground Railroad to Rebel Refuge: Canada and the Civil War" (ECW Press, 2022)
Jan 12, 2026
Brian Martin, an award-winning Canadian journalist, dives into Canada’s overlooked role in the Civil War. He shares the gripping story of how 20,000 Canadians fought on both sides and how the Underground Railroad served as a refuge for not just escaped slaves, but also for KKK members and Confederate leaders. Martin discusses the significant migration of Black people to Canada seeking freedom, the local reception of Confederate exiles, and the complex dynamics of neutrality in wartime. His insights reveal a captivating narrative of cross-border interactions.
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Charleston Graves Sparked The Book
- Brian Martin describes finding headstones of people born in Charleston in a London, Ontario cemetery which sparked his research into Canadians linked to the Civil War.
- That discovery led him to investigate why thousands of Americans crossed into Canada before, during, and after the war.
Canada As The Attic Neighbor
- Martin uses the 'attic' analogy to describe Canada as a neighbor living above volatile U.S. events.
- Proximity and small population made Canada a refuge and spillover zone for U.S. conflicts and fugitives.
Chloe Cooley's Case And Freedom Law
- Martin recounts Chloe Cooley's forcible sale across the Niagara River which outraged local citizens.
- Her case prompted Upper Canada to pass a law in 1793 that began phasing out slavery and spurred Black migration north via the Underground Railroad.
