War on the Frontier (Civil War Series)

Rating:
Summary: Fighting with and against Indians during the Civil War
Review: When you talk about the Civil War the war in the "West" means everything between Northern Virginia and the Mississippi River. However, keeping in mind that the city of Vicksburg was on the eastern banks of the Mississippi, this volume in the Time-Life Civil War series looks at what happened on the other side of the great river, what is characterized here as the "War on the Frontier." Having lived in New Mexico I had some knowledge of a few encounters between Confederate and Union troops in the state, but had little idea how far this side show of the war went, extending from Arizona to Minnesota. Consequently, this volume is a fascinating look at some of the war's most inconsequential battles.

Alvin M. Josephy, Jr., covers a lot of time and territory in the five chapters of this volume: (1) Frustration in New Mexico details how the Confederacy wanted to grab the American Southwest, interested primarily in the gold mines and the sea ports of California. However, this effort really did not get beyond the New Mexico Territory (a pictorial essay at the end of this chapter talks about what was happening in Mexico during the American Civil War); (2) Red River Odyssey covers the Union campaign following the victory at New Orleans to invade Texas and force the Confederates to divert forces; (3) Minnesota's Season of Terror is interesting because it tells how Union forces there had to deal with an uprising of Sioux Indians, a reminder how that part of the country was still the edge of the nation's frontier (the pictorial essay for this chapter offers primitive paintings by John Stevens of the Sioux uprising); (4) A Merciless Campaign of Suppression covers other military campaigns against the Indians during the Civil War, most notably the attack on the Cheyenne village at Sand Creek, Colorado; and (5) A Clash of Uneasy Alliances focuses on those Indians who actively fought with one side or the other during the Civil War, such as those at the Battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas and Westport, Missouri. Here we learn of Confederate General Albert Pike, who insisted the Indians his troops fought with be treated as equals so that they would know they were fighting for themselves.

I would imagine that no other volume in this series provides as much new information as "War on the Frontier." The cover illustration is a bit deceptive, but if you look behind the charging Confederate cavalry you will see Indians attacking the Union position as well. The historic photographs and etchings are also ones most Civil War buffs will never have seen before. Certainly Josephy has done a solid job of providing a detailed look at what the Civil War was like in the real "west."

Rating:
Summary: Fighting with and against Indians during the Civil War
Review: When you talk about the Civil War the war in the "West" means everything between Northern Virginia and the Mississippi River. However, keeping in mind that the city of Vicksburg was on the eastern banks of the Mississippi, this volume in the Time-Life Civil War series looks at what happened on the other side of the great river, what is characterized here as the "War on the Frontier." Having lived in New Mexico I had some knowledge of a few encounters between Confederate and Union troops in the state, but had little idea how far this side show of the war went, extending from Arizona to Minnesota. Consequently, this volume is a fascinating look at some of the war's most inconsequential battles.

Alvin M. Josephy, Jr., covers a lot of time and territory in the five chapters of this volume: (1) Frustration in New Mexico details how the Confederacy wanted to grab the American Southwest, interested primarily in the gold mines and the sea ports of California. However, this effort really did not get beyond the New Mexico Territory (a pictorial essay at the end of this chapter talks about what was happening in Mexico during the American Civil War); (2) Red River Odyssey covers the Union campaign following the victory at New Orleans to invade Texas and force the Confederates to divert forces; (3) Minnesota's Season of Terror is interesting because it tells how Union forces there had to deal with an uprising of Sioux Indians, a reminder how that part of the country was still the edge of the nation's frontier (the pictorial essay for this chapter offers primitive paintings by John Stevens of the Sioux uprising); (4) A Merciless Campaign of Suppression covers other military campaigns against the Indians during the Civil War, most notably the attack on the Cheyenne village at Sand Creek, Colorado; and (5) A Clash of Uneasy Alliances focuses on those Indians who actively fought with one side or the other during the Civil War, such as those at the Battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas and Westport, Missouri. Here we learn of Confederate General Albert Pike, who insisted the Indians his troops fought with be treated as equals so that they would know they were fighting for themselves.

I would imagine that no other volume in this series provides as much new information as "War on the Frontier." The cover illustration is a bit deceptive, but if you look behind the charging Confederate cavalry you will see Indians attacking the Union position as well. The historic photographs and etchings are also ones most Civil War buffs will never have seen before. Certainly Josephy has done a solid job of providing a detailed look at what the Civil War was like in the real "west."