“It is probable that most American historians, even those who specialize in our national fratricide, have never heard of Dr. Issachar Zacharie, Lincoln’s English-born and Jewish chiropodist, confidante, emissary and spy. That is unfortunate, because he is one of the most extraordinary figures to come out of the Civil War era. E. Lawrence Abel has ably corrected the deficiency, giving Zacharie center stage with lots of light in this wonderful book. It gives one pause to wonder: How many other nuggets of gold remain hidden to us?”—John C. Fazio, author of Decapitating the Union: Jefferson Davis, Judah Benjamin and the Plot to Assassinate Lincoln