Customer Reviews

The Battle of Okolona: Defending the Mississippi Prairie (Civil War Sesquicentennial)

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Professor Beck's latest book deals with a little known but extremely decisive battle of the Civil War. Dr. Beck's "Battle of Okolona" not only expertly deals with the Battle itself, but also contains an exhaustive reference data base AND a self-guided driving and walking tour of the battle field. The well written text is supplemented with germane photographs of the significant "players" in the battle along with current photographs detailing the various fields of conflict and troop movements. Additionally Dr. Beck provides the reader with detailed maps which orient the reader to the over all campaign which resulted in the Battle of Okolona.

Dr. Beck is at home in this environment having just retired from a career as a distinguished Professor of Civil War History. Beck's style is scholarly but at the same time easily followed by even the most casual student of the Civil War. I would unqualifiedly recommend this book as a "Must Read" for every student of the Civil War.

The last thing I need is another tome on Gettysburg, Antietam or the other oft scribed battles. Its all been said. What we need is more works such as Dr. Beck's with bring to light virtually unknown battles which played significant role's in the ultimate determination of the conflict.

Well done Dr. Beck ! ! !

Historian and author Dr. Brandon Beck is been better known in Civil War history circles for his books on the war in Virginia, specifically the Shenandoah Valley region, where he lived and taught for a while, founding the McCormick Civil War Institute at Shenandoah University. 'The Battle of Okolona - Saving the Mississippi Prairie' is his first foray into the war in the West and it is an auspicious debut for him in that theater. Dr. Beck sheds some light on one of the lesser known actions that helped save northeast Mississippi and elevated Confederate commander Nathan Bedford Forrest to even greater fame.

The main antagonists in this recounting of what many might consider a `backwoods battle' is Forrest, the immediate Confederate commander in the area, who is desperately trying to gather men and equipment to blunt or hopefully turn back the Union incursion of Gen. William Sooy Smith, on his way from Memphis, TN with a large cavalry force to Meridian, MS. The supporting cast consists of familiar names like William Tecumseh Sherman, waiting at Meridian for Smith after scorching his way there from Vicksburg, and Stephen Dill Lee, Forrest's department commander who wisely decided to give his subordinate wide latitude in dealing with the invasion.

The story begins by recounting the general situation of the war in 1864 and focuses on the Mississippi prairie and its importance to the Confederate war effort. Each of the opposing forces is examined along with their respective commanders and explains what their objectives were and as well as the obstacles they faced. The story begins to heat up as Smith and the Union cavalry start moving south through north Mississippi, shadowed by Forrest's own cavalry. Both commanders have their problems: the Union force departs later than planned and Smith is unwell, racked by bouts of arthritis. He is also cautious, almost to the point of vacillation, knowing that Forrest will strike him but not knowing where or when. Forrest continually worries about not having enough men and whether he can concentrate his force at the right place and time to engage the Federals.

Once battle is joined in earnest at Ellis Bridge, near West Point, MS the ebb and flow of combat is related in vivid detail and follows both armies all the way to Pontotoc, MS as Smith's forces retreat through the same land they had recently burned out and despoiled. Smith, who becomes a successful civil engineer after the war, spends the rest of his life defending his handling of the expedition. Forrest goes on to become an icon of Confederate history and a military legend.

The book includes an extensive section on present day Okolona and the surrounding area with a narrative tour complete with photographs of key areas mentioned in the narrative. Directions to each location allow people interested in the battle to view the sites during a day-trip to the area. The entire book is well illustrated with period photos, some never published before, and new maps showing the area of action. The entire account is heavily footnoted and makes liberal use of first-hand accounts of the battle.

'The Battle of Okolona' is one volume in the new Civil War Sesquicentennial Series by The History Press and I believe it will be the standard on this small but important action for years to come.

The battle of Okolona needs a book to cover it, but this one failed to do the job. The book only has two maps in the entire volume. The maps are both just high level overviews of the area around Okolona with lines showing troops movement, nothing tactical on the maps. I would expect maps down to at least the brigade level in a book covering a specific battle. The whole book is a little over 100 pages, when you take out the prepatory information on the campaign and the tour guide in the back of the book, all you have on the battle itself is two chapters. I have found better coverage on the Battle of Okolona in general histories about Forrest. Save your $14.99 and wait for a better book on Okolona.