Updated 02/26/04
The 1864 Meridian Expedition has had very little coverage in books. With that said, the definitive study on the Campaign has already been written. It is Marge Bearss' book, which looks to be very detailed.
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Title
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Author
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Comments
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Sherman's Forgotten Campaign: The Meridian Expedition |
Margie
Riddle Bearss
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Updated
02/26/04 I just
picked up this book on my recent trip to Vicksburg, and I am very excited
about it. This book is difficult to find, and I'm not sure where to
find it other than at the Vicksburg battlefield. The book details Sherman's
Expedition to clear out middle Mississippi from Vicksburg all the way
east to Meridian in early 1864. Margie Bearss did a very good job with
this little known campaign to clear Mississippi of Rebels from Vicksburg
east across the State to Meridian. The book was an enjoyable read, and
made the interesting point that Sherman may have started on his destructive
bent after losing his son to a sickness he contracted while visiting
the General down in Mississippi. Bearss pointsout sherman may have blamed
himself and never forgave himself for this. And seh correctly points
out that his Meridian Campaign contained destruction and burning on
a scale never seen from Sherman earlier, but seen often after this point.
The book needed one better maps though. Many place names were mentioned
which never appeared on the maps. This made it very difficult to follow
along in a few places. Nevertheless, this is an excellent rendering
of Sherman's Meridian Campaign. Anyone interested in te war in the west
should own a copy. 363 pp., 10 maps
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