St. Augustine, Fla. – What does a Civil War general have to do with the Catholic Church and St. Augustine? Lincoln’s Bold Lion: The Life and Times of Brigadier General Martin Davis Hardin by Tallahassee author James Huffstodt evoke the astounding life of the one-armed, four times wounded Union general.

This Wednesday, April 20, at 7 p.m. the community is invited to the Mission Nombre de Dios Museum, 27 Ocean Ave., St. Augustine, for a presentation by James Huffstodt, who will perform in costume as a Hardin intimate recalling his life during a visit to Tallahassee following the General’s 1923 funeral in St. Augustine.

General Hardin was a protégé of President Abraham Lincoln, son of Lincoln’s good friend killed in the Mexican War, Gettysburg veteran, Roman Catholic convert, defender of Washington during the 1864 Confederate Raid, and a 40-year winter resident of St. Augustine where he lies today in the National Cemetery.

His widow, Amelia Hardin, refurbished and dedicated the historic chapel of Our Lady of La Leche to his memory in 1925. General Hardin’s step-brother, Father Clarence Walworth of Saratoga Springs, N.Y., was a missionary priest, author and donor of the sun dial affixed to the front wall of the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine. Come and learn more about the life of this distinguished general and his connection to our ancient city and the historic chapel of Our Lady of La Leche.

Admission is free. For more information, call (904) 824-2809. Copies of James Huffstodt’s book will be available for sale following the program.

James Huffstodt is an author-historian who has written four history books and more than 100 feature stories in various publications including: Civil War Times Illustrated Magazine, Sea Classics Magazine, Dog World Magazine, Florida Fish and Wildlife Magazine, Florida Sportsmen Magazine, the Lincoln Herald and Tallahassee Magazine. Huffstodt studied American and European history and holds a degree from Southern Illinois University, and has won several national and state writing awards.

CONTACT:  Kathleen Bagg
(904) 262-1705/office
(904) 434-3909/cell