Western Theater Unit Histories and Miscellaneous Books

Updated 12/26/06

There are many, many unit histories out here of varying quality and size. I've only just recently started a collection of these books, so my collection is scarce. I plan to add to this as time goes by.

Rugged and Sublime: The Civil War in Arkansas	Mark K. Christ (Editor)	New 12/26/06 Read my REVIEW. 207 pp., 13 maps
All For The Regiment: The Army of the Ohio, 1861-1862	Gerald R. Prokopowicz	Although this book was an interesting read, I didn't really buy into the author's thesis that this army was unable to deliver killer blows because the loyalty lies mainly with the regiment instead of higher organizations. If nothing else, this is a fine overview of the Army of the Ohio before Rosecrans took over and renamed it the Army of the Cumberland. 265 pp., 3 maps
The Armies of U.S. Grant	James R. Arnold	I haven't yet read this, but the author is James Arnold, a man whose opinion I've come to respect. I have read another title in this series, "The Armies of Wellington", and if this book is anything like that one then it is a must-read. 288 pp., 8 maps
Grant and Halleck: Contrasts In Command	John Y. Simon	New 08/18/03 I haven't yet read this $5 pamphlet reproducing John Y. Simon's lecture. I picked this up at Vicksburg National Battlefield. 33 pp.
Cannoneers in Gray: The Field Artillery of the Army of Tennessee, 1861-1865	Larry J. Daniel	Updated 12/04/05 In this review in brief, I'll be taking a look at Larry J. Daniel's Cannoneers In Gray: The Field Artillery of the Army of Tennessee, 1861-1865. Daniel's book seeks to take a look at this neglected arm of a neglected army. In other words, the redlegs of the Army of Tennessee appear to be red-headed stepchildren of a red-headed stepchild. I had high hopes for this particular book, as I am a fan of the western theater, but unfortunately it fell a little short of my expectations. Daniel simply does not cover the subject in enough detail, and the lack of any maps is a bit of a disappointment. Some of the editing lapses and typos almost drove me to distraction. I would say the book has a place on everyone's bookshelf, but I believe this could have been done better. I consider the book to be a decent addition to my collection, but I really think Daniel (or someone else) could have done a much more thorough job with this subject. 234 pp. Full review HERE.
A River Unvexed: A History and Tour Guide to the Campaign for the Mississippi River (The Civil War Campaigns Series)	Jim Miles	New 08/18/03 This book is a little hard to categorize. First, it contains info on all of the Mississippi River struggles, including Island No. 10, Memphis, Vicksburg, Port Hudson, and New Orleans, so it can't fit in any individual campaign area. Second, it is also a tour guide to these campaigns. If I ever get a travel section it will end up there. I haven't yet read it. 596 pp., many, many maps
Confederate Cavalry West of the River	Stephen B. Oates	New 4/16/06 I will review this book after I've read it. 234 pp., 7 maps
A Crisis In Confederate Command: Edmund Kirby Smith, Richard Taylor, And The Army Of The Trans-Mississippi	Jeffery S. Prushankin	New 4/16/06 I will review this book after I've read it. 308 pp., 9 maps