Formerly the smallest city in Massachusetts, Newburyport is considered to be one of the architectural gems of New England. Its history, both public and private, is intertwined with and expressed by its structures. Newburyport was incorporated in 1764 when it broke away from the early settlement of Newbury, which was founded in 1635 by English livestock investors. The port supplied England with large timbers for shipbuilding in the 1700s. As international trade grew, many merchants acquired great wealth, which in turn helped build the city. The devastating fire of 1811 prompted building ordinances requiring non-wooden material, and the beautiful, Federal-period brick structures in the downtown area are the result. Today Newburyport is an historical destination, the consummation of years of work in architectural preservation, enriched by Yankee, European, and French-Canadian cultures.

The smoke of cannon fire and the sound of rifles were not seen or heard in Newburyport, Massachusetts during the Civil War yet it was an all too familiar experience for many of its inhabitants. Local author William Hallett describes in thrilling detail the lives and deeds of those from the Clipper City that served both Union and Confederate causes. From the abolitionist preaching of William Lloyd Garrison to the heroism of Albert W. Bartlett, with naval warfare, including the construction of the U.S.S. Marblehead, and political intrigue in between, Newburyport left its mark on the Civil War. With stories of valor both on the battlefield and the home front, Hallett presents the history and legacy of Newburyport in Civil War.