Jefferson C. Davis had a unique history when the Civil War broke out: he was a sergeant who served during the Mexican-American War, who then got a direct commission into the U.S. Army when a promised slot at West Point failed to appear. He found himself at Fort Sumter when the first shots of the Civil War were fired and was soon embroiled in the confused fighting in the border state of Missouri. He next found himself in Kentucky during the 1862 Confederate invasion and the event which would follow him for the rest of his life took place in Louisville: the murder of General William Nelson following a heated argument as to the best means to defend the city.
The author does an excellent job of examining the whole incident with Nelson and explaining why no charges were ever made against General Davis. He also does a great job of discussing Davis's rise from brigade commander to corps commander, serving in the Atlanta campaign, the March to the Sea and the Carolina Campaign. His postwar career in Alaska and the Modoc War are also dealt with. A lot of information but well worth the read.
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