Dark and Bloody Ground: The Battle of Mansfield and the Forgotten Civil War in Louisiana [Hardcover]

Thomas Ayres (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2001

The story of the Union army's ill-fated Red River Campaign and its disastrous defeat at Mansfield, Dark and Bloody Ground chronicles one of the strangest and most ignoble defeats suffered by the Union forces.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Told in flowing and provocative narrative style, Ayers chronicles the Civil War in Louisiana. The book covers December 1860 through the end of the war, examing topics such as the South's unforeseen victory during the Red River campaign. Complete with bibliography, this text is a welcome addition to the body of works on Louisiana history. (Civil War Book Review )

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Taylor Trade Publishing; 1ST edition (February 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0878331808
• ISBN-13: 978-0878331802
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,193,927 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars NOT WHAT THE TITLE IMPLIES, November 9, 2002

By 

Edmund Ernewein (Jefferson, Louisiana United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dark and Bloody Ground: The Battle of Mansfield and the Forgotten Civil War in Louisiana (Hardcover)

First: This is one great book. For someone not wanting to spend lots of money and time reading the WBTS in Louisiana, this book is one stop shopping. Second: two problems. Where are the maps! No maps, no battlefield dispositions, nada. The Battle of Sabine Crossroads (a.k.a.Mansfield) is covered in one chapter. I thought this was what the book was to be about. Still waiting for the one great book about this little explored battle. BUT, I loved the book. The author's style is excellent, his anecdotes were wonderful. BUY THIS BOOK.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good book, bad title, January 9, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Dark and Bloody Ground: The Battle of Mansfield and the Forgotten Civil War in Louisiana (Hardcover)

I enjoyed the book very much and would highly recommend it. As another reviewer suggested, however, the book's subtitle is misleading. The focus of the book is one the Civil War in Louisiana generally and on the military career of Dick Taylor. Both subjects are very interesting. I have a peculiar interest in the Battle of Mansfield. The treatment of that battle is relatively brief and not entirely clear, to me at least, perhaps because of the absence of maps. If you're not disappointed by what the book isn't, you'll probably enjoy what it is.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent History of the Civil War in Louisiana!, October 3, 2001

By 

Travis (Connecticut) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dark and Bloody Ground: The Battle of Mansfield and the Forgotten Civil War in Louisiana (Hardcover)

I grew up in Louisiana and grew up on stories of the War Between the States. Over the years I've read just about any book or article concerning Louisiana's Civil War soldiers and battles, which I could get my hands on. "Dark & Bloody Ground" is by far the best, in my opinion! Author, Thomas Ayres has done his homework and presents a well researched story of the Civil War in Louisiana...but it is his writing that raises "Dark and Bloody Ground above the rest. Here is the story of General Dick Taylor and the men of a out-numbered little Rebel army, told as only a talented writer could tell it. I had already read his book, "That's Not in My American History Book and found it extremely entertaining...so I was eager to read his new Civil War book....Even Better! To often classroom "historians" lose the real story in their obsession to cram a book with every possible fact and stat, forgetting it is the people who fought the Civil War that hold a reader's interest...at least mine. Thomas Ayres brings the men and women of that time to life and allows you so see them,laugh and cry with them. That's the best thing about "Dark and Bloody Ground."
I hope this author is busy writing another one, because the first two are winners!