Arkansas Confederates in the Western Theater [Hardcover]

James Willis (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 903 pages
• Publisher: Morningside Bookshop (November 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0890293333
• ISBN-13: 978-0890293331
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.4 x 2.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,515,300 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For the Serious Civil War Reader, November 14, 2005

By 

Bryan R. Howerton - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Arkansas Confederates in the Western Theater (Hardcover)

Although Arkansas committed most of its men and boys to the Confederate cause, and her regiments served in every theater of the Civil War, there has been precious little attention given to the important role they played. James Willis has fixed that with his landmark book, "Arkansas Confederates in the Western Theater."

When the book was published, the reviewer for the Arkansas statewide newspaper complained that it was "too detailed." For the serious Civil War reader, that phrase is music to our ears.

This massive book (nearly 900 pages) was thoroughly researched and meticulously footnoted. Although all of the Arkansas regiments which served in the Army of Tennessee are covered, the vehicle Willis used to carry the narrative is a day-to-day chronicle of the 9th Arkansas Infantry Regiment. As a counterpoint to the "big picture" of campaigns and battles, Willis provides numerous "soldier's eye" vignettes, using excerpts from letters, diaries, journals, and muster roll entries.

The result is a monument to the perseverance and dedication of the Arkansas volunteers.

Included are several appendices which list a complete regimental roster, casualty lists, officer lists, etc. I continually refer back to this book in the course of my own research.

I highly recommend this book.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Arkansas Confederates in the Western Theater, October 22, 2001

By 

J. S. Peacock (Pine Bluff, AR United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Arkansas Confederates in the Western Theater (Hardcover)

Civil War research is often written from a soliders point of view or contains romantic idealism. This book simply states the events, describes the conditions, offers personal glimpses of the soilders, and provides a timeline of events. If you had an ancestor in the Western Theater, this book will provide information of what their world was like. I found soilder listings here that I have not seen anywhere else. This book has become a valuable source of information and I wish there were more like it.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great read!, July 10, 2006

By 

Clarance Benes "Dr. Benes" (Ada, OK USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Arkansas Confederates in the Western Theater (Hardcover)

Despite the fact that the book is long and contains well researched facts and figures, I found it difficult to put down! As a very personal account of a group of Arkansas men who try to survive the Civl War, from recruitment to the final surrender, it had me wondering what was going to happen to each of them mentioned by name. I read every footnote and enjoyed it so much that I would recommend the book to anyone. I also think it would make a great screen play as well.