The Saltville Massacre (Civil War Campaigns and Commanders Series) [Paperback]

Thomas D. Mays (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1998 | Age Level: 10 and up | Series: Civil War Campaigns and Commanders Series

In October 1864, in the mountains of southwest Virginia, one of the most brutal acts of the Civil War occurs. Brig. Gen. Stephen Burbridge launches a raid to capture Saltville. Included among his forces is the 5th U.S. Colored Cavalry. Repeated Federal attacks are repulsed by Confederate forces under the command of Gen. John S. Williams. As the sun begins to set, Burbridge pulls his troops from the field, leaving many wounded. In the morning, Confederate troops, including a company of ruffians under the command of Captain Champ Ferguson, advance over the battleground seeking out and killing the wounded black soldiers. What starts as a small but intense mountain battle degenerates into a no-quarter, racial massacre. A detailed account from eyewitness reports of the most blatant battlefield atrocity of the war.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"an excellent series [that] should be in every Texas school!" -- Empire Books

About the Author

THOMAS D. MAYS holds an M.A. from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. He has taught at Roanoke College, New River Community College, and Texas Christian University, where he is a doctoral candidate.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: State House Press (January 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1886661057
• ISBN-13: 978-1886661059
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,501,307 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dr. Mays is an associate professor of history at Humboldt State University in Arcata, California. He came to HSU in 2003 after spending five years teaching history at Quincy University in Illinois. He was raised in the Midwest and his family's traditional home in Virginia. He recently retired from the military after serving 25 years on active duty and reserves. He holds a Ph.D. from TCU in Fort Worth, TX, an M.A. from Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA and a B.A. from Roanoke College in Salem, VA. Currently he teaches early American history, colonial era through the Civil War. His interests include the American Revolutionary and Civil War eras. He has three books and several articles in print.