Customer Reviews

Civil War in the Ozarks

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book is designed for the average guy or gal off the street (from high school age to adult)to learn the bare basics about Ozarks Civil War heritage. Elite scholars may find it too simple, but hey... history belongs to all our citizens, not just professors and other professionals.

I enjoyed reading this book. I thought that the treatment of Wilson's Creek, Pea Ridge, and Prairie Grove with just enough detail with out really boring people. I believe that this area in Missouri was basically destroyed economically and in other ways during the War years. Missouri is the third state in the number of Civil War sites in the country. While the Ozarks runs technically into Oklahoma, Arkansas the book also covers activity in these other states quite well. There is little dates, and people facts mentioned. The book reads as if some one was relating the story to you from the beginning of the War to the end.

One area that was not really shown in the book that could be shown in other books is the effect on the local population of the actual battles. The effects that are mentioned are the Confederate Draft later in the war, the later sniping events that occurred, and the story of Jessie James. I feel that the local history could have been investigated further to show the effects of the battles like Wilson Creek that over loaded the town of Springfield. The basic events of the battles are illustrated in main concept form in clear English.

I believe that this book gives a good basic account of what happened from a military perspective. The subject could be further enlarged to the role of Indian troops on both sides, the economic, and social issues that came out of the War in this area. A more in depth look at the men that actually fought in the Ozarks and where they were from. These details are not really mentioned - if they are mentioned it is from a big picture perspective.

The over all rating is for content. I have been reading on this subject for several years. This book is a very good read.

Recommend your read this one and recommend you add it to your collection. This work covers aspects of the Civil War often times overlooked. I is a wonderful starting place for a study of the War in this part of the country. Needless to say, it does need to be supplemented with further reading, but it is certainly a good start. Highly recommend

"Civil War in the Ozarks" by Phillip W. Steele is an excellent read, and is written for the average reader who wants to gain a comprehensive knowledge of the Civil War. I enjoyed this book!

A "must read" for anyone interested in the Civil War in general, and the Civil War in the Ozarks region in particular. I especially liked Steele's writing style. Steele has a talent for delivering a lot of historical information while keeping the reader turning the pages wanting to know more. A very good book!

Treats some of the stories of the Civil War in the west without explaining the larger issues. This is an inexpensive book, but not necessarily a good value.