Ellsworth will talk about his latest book, Midnight on the Potomac: The Last Year of the Civil War, the Lincoln Assassination, and the Rebirth of America. The book focuses on the final months of the American Civil War, when the outcome was far from certain. The book takes readers behind the scenes in the White House, along the battlefronts in Virginia, and into the conspiracies of spies and secret agents. It details the Confederacy’s attempt to burn down New York City, how Abraham Lincoln almost lost the presidency, and how thousands of enslaved African Americans freed themselves and helped secure the nation’s survival. Copies of the book will be available for purchase and the presentation will be followed by a book signing.

Ellsworth has previously appeared as a guest on the TODAY Show, Good Morning America, PBS’s The American Experience, National Public Radio, Voice of America, CNN, Fox, MSNBC, the BBC, and other media outlets.

The library is located at 210 E. Corunna Avenue directly east of the Historic Shiawassee County Courthouse. Seating is limited so preregistration is encouraged. Register online at mycdl.org/events or phone 989-743-4800.