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Guide to Missouri Confederate Units
written by James E. McGhee
Studio : University of Arkansas Press
by University of Arkansas Press
Publisher : University of Arkansas Press
Released : 2008-03-31
Availability : Usually ships in 24 hours and eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25.
Number of Items : 1
EAN : 9781557288707
Avg. Customer Rating: (based on 2 reviews)
List Price : $34.95
Our Price : $27.96
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Product Description |
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Tracing the origins and history of Missouri Confederate units that served during the Civil War is nearly as difficult as comprehending the diverse politics that produced them. Deeply torn by the issues that caused the conflict, some Missourians chose sides enthusiastically, others reluctantly, while a number had to choose out of sheer necessity, for fence straddling held no sway in the state after the fighting began. The several thousand that sided with the Confederacy formed a variety of military organizations, some earning reputations for hard fighting exceeded by few other states, North or South. Unfortunately, the records of Missouri's Confederate units have not been adequately preserved--officially or otherwise--until now. James E. McGhee is a highly respected and widely published authority on the Civil War in Missouri; the scope of this book is startling, the depth of detail gratifying, its reliability undeniable, and the unit narratives highly readable. McGhee presents accounts of the sixty-nine artillery, cavalry, and infantry units in the state, as well as their precedent units, and those that failed to complete their organization. Relying heavily on primary sources, such as rosters, official reports, order books, letters, diaries, and memoirs, he weaves diverse materials into concise narratives of each of Missouri's Confederate organizations. He lists the field-grade officers for battalions and regiments, companies and company commanders, and places of origin for each company when known. In addition to listing all the commanding officers in each unit, he includes a bibliography germane to the unit, while a supplemental bibliography provides the other sources used in preparing this unique and comprehensive resource. |
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Outstanding reference work! |
I just finished this book, and it is outstanding. Jim McGhee covers every Missouri unit that organized for Confederate service. Units of all three branches of service are covered here, from regiments all the way down to independent companies. The book is limited to Confederate units; see Sterling Price's Lieutenants for information on State Guard units. The book is organized by branch of service (all artillery units in one section, then cavalry and infantry).
There are many strengths to this book. I liked the format. Each unit has a narrative section, covering unit organization and service. There is also a listing of field officers, and a listing of commanders of each company and county of primary origin, when known. I knew quite a bit about the reorganizations of the regiments in the 1st and 2nd Missouri Brigades, but there were numerous renumberings and reorganizations/consolidations of many other Missouri units, and McGhee makes sense of it all. In addition, a bibliography is provided for each unit, plus a bibliography of more general sources at the end.
Bottom line: if you have a serious interest in the Trans-Mississippi Theatre, the Western Theatre, and/or the contributions of Missouri units to the Confederacy, this excellent reference should be on your shelf.
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A great research tool , long overdue- but guess what: it's also fun to read |
Well, Jim's done it. Not only has he produced a research tool so many of us have needed and wanted - he's also provided a volume that's fun to pick up and just wander through. It flows so well that you might forget it's a guidebook.
The unit histories are just dandy, each with its own bibliography, and the weaving of units together through reorganizations amidst the chaos of war is done seamlessly, artfully. An unexpected bonus was the collection of Missouri Confederate images, including a couple I'd never seen.
This work is a real accomplishment, but we've come to expect that from this author. |
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