Civil War Kansas: Reaping the Whirlwind [Paperback]

Albert E. Castel (Author)

Book Description

Series: Modern War Studies | Publication Date: October 1997

The long agony" was over: Kansas, as of January 29, 1861, was a state--it had "moved to America." In Leavenworth, Lawrence, Topeka, and other towns Kansans celebrated the "glorious news" of the coming of statehood in a "fury of excitement." Cannons boomed, cheering crowds gathered on the street corners, a judge and a militia general stood on their heads, and the saloons were scenes of inebriated revelry.

So begins Albert Castel's classic history of Kansas during the Civil War. Long recognized as a key study on the war in the trans-Mississippi West, Civil War Kansas describes the political, military, social, and economic events of the state's first four years. Castel contributes to a better understanding of the Civil War in this region through a realistic presentation and analysis of the Kansas-Missouri border conflict, the operations of the Missouri guerrillas under Quantrill, and the Union and Confederate military campaigns in Missouri, Arkansas, the Indian Territory, and Kansas itself.

This book is part of the Modern War Studies series.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"In this spirited history, Castel, a Wichita native, uncovers villains by the dozen but nary a hero." -- Wichita Eagle

From the Back Cover

"This book has achieved the status of a classic in the genre."--James M. McPherson, author of Battle Cry of Freedom

"This superb history of Kansas during the Civil War era remains a model study that casts great light on the troubled history of the Western border."--David Herbert Donald, author of Lincoln

"The best book we have on the Civil War in Kansas."--Allan Nevins, author of The War for the Union

"An eminently readable book, reflecting understanding of issues and leaders in a state which entered the Union just as the 'erring sisters' were attempting to depart."--Dudley Taylor Cornish, author of The Sable Arm: Black Troops in the Union Army

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 268 pages
• Publisher: University Press of Kansas; Authorized ed edition (October 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0700608729
• ISBN-13: 978-0700608720
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,439,835 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent overview of the Civil War era in Kansas, July 10, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Civil War Kansas: Reaping the Whirlwind (Paperback)

As a Kansan raised on the pro-John Brown, pro-Jayhawker propaganda prevalent in my state as a child, this book was a wake up call. This is the first and only account I have seen about the conflict between Kansas and Missouri during the Civil War that's presented in a level-headed and objective manner. Some of the language (i.e. gratuitous use of the words "Negro" and "Indian") serves as a frequent reminder that this book was penned during the late 1950s, but aside from that it remains quite prescient. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to know what Kansas was really like during the Civil War. In the end you're likely to be a bit disappointed - Not with the book, but with the realization that there were no heroes in Kansas during that time and that Kansans didn't generally stand firmly in support of the kinds of values we attribute to them today.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A readable history, March 22, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Civil War Kansas: Reaping the Whirlwind (Paperback)

Albert Castel was able to make the Civil War in Kansas apeal to the senses. The truth about the war and how it tore society apart while bringing it back together. The book is one of the best about Kansas during the Civil War.