Most histories of the American Civil War west of the Mississippi are restricted to certain events or areas. This is the first book I've read that attempts to cover it all. If you want a good, overall, but also detailed introduction to the war in this area, I recommend this book.
For whatever reason, the author does not cover the events in chronological order. Some later chapters cover events earlier in the war. He may do this to ensure a proper coverage of events in one area. After all, the area west of the Mississippi was vast. The author also does a good job of covering the various campaigns against the western Indians. I remember reading one entire book that simply covered the actions of "galvanized Yankees," or southern prisoners who volunteered to serve as Union troops fighting the Indians. Josephy briefly covers these troops in one of the chapters dealing with the Indian campaigns.
Abraham Lincoln often bears the onus of sentencing to death over 30 Indian leaders in the Sioux uprising of 1862. Josephy sets the record right when he writes that over 300 were sentenced to death by local courts, but President Lincoln reviewed the court records in details and reduced that number to slightly over 30.
The "Civilized Tribes" are covered in the last two chapters. Not only did these Indians fight the Union and the Confederacy, but they fought each other. So they lost three different ways.
One minor point that arose again in my reading is that Josephy claims Indian leader and Confederate General Stan Watie was the last Confederate general to surrender in the Civil War. I remember reading elsewhere this wasn't true. Some relatively unknown, other Confederate general was the last to surrender, but I can't remember where I read that. All I remember was that author provided extremely good proof that Watie wasn't the last to surrender. If anyone knows who this was, I'd like to hear from you. Josephy wrote this book in 1991, and a lot of Civil War history has changed in the last 25 years due to new research.
And, of course, Josephy covers the military actions of white troops in California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Colorado, Utah and more. A lot happened out west, and reading this book will open your eyes if you were not aware of it. Hopefully, you'll then pursue even more detailed histories of specific campaigns and events.
For whatever reason, the author does not cover the events in chronological order. Some later chapters cover events earlier in the war. He may do this to ensure a proper coverage of events in one area. After all, the area west of the Mississippi was vast. The author also does a good job of covering the various campaigns against the western Indians. I remember reading one entire book that simply covered the actions of "galvanized Yankees," or southern prisoners who volunteered to serve as Union troops fighting the Indians. Josephy briefly covers these troops in one of the chapters dealing with the Indian campaigns.
Abraham Lincoln often bears the onus of sentencing to death over 30 Indian leaders in the Sioux uprising of 1862. Josephy sets the record right when he writes that over 300 were sentenced to death by local courts, but President Lincoln reviewed the court records in details and reduced that number to slightly over 30.
The "Civilized Tribes" are covered in the last two chapters. Not only did these Indians fight the Union and the Confederacy, but they fought each other. So they lost three different ways.
One minor point that arose again in my reading is that Josephy claims Indian leader and Confederate General Stan Watie was the last Confederate general to surrender in the Civil War. I remember reading elsewhere this wasn't true. Some relatively unknown, other Confederate general was the last to surrender, but I can't remember where I read that. All I remember was that author provided extremely good proof that Watie wasn't the last to surrender. If anyone knows who this was, I'd like to hear from you. Josephy wrote this book in 1991, and a lot of Civil War history has changed in the last 25 years due to new research.
And, of course, Josephy covers the military actions of white troops in California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Colorado, Utah and more. A lot happened out west, and reading this book will open your eyes if you were not aware of it. Hopefully, you'll then pursue even more detailed histories of specific campaigns and events.
