The Civil War is famously known for the huge battles that defined it such as Gettysburg, Antietam, and Shiloh. However, bestselling author Patrick K. O’Donnell reveals in his book The Unvanquished that there was a crucial shadow war that took place amid and away from the major battlefields, which was in many ways just as consequential to the conflict’s outcome. At the center of this groundbreaking narrative is the remarkable story of Lincoln’s special forces – the Jessie Scouts – told in its entirety for the first time.

Patrick K. O’Donnell is a bestselling, critically acclaimed military historian and an expert on elite units. The author of thirteen books, including The Indispensables, The Unknowns, and Washington’s Immortals, he is the recipient of numerous national awards. O’Donnell served as a combat historian in a Marine rifle platoon during the Battle of Fallujah and is a professional speaker on America’s conflicts, espionage, special operations, and counterinsurgency. He has provided historical consulting for DreamWorks’ award-winning miniseries Band of Brothers and for documentaries produced by the BBC, the History Channel, and Discovery.