The Western theater of the Civil War; rich in agricultural resources and manpower and home to a large number of slaves; stretched 600 miles north to south and 450 miles east to west from the Appalachians to the Mississippi. If the South lost the West; there would be little hope of preserving the Confederacy. Earl J. Hess's comprehensive study of how Federal forces conquered and held the West examines the geographical difficulties of conducting campaigns in a vast land; as well as the toll irregular warfare took on soldiers and civilians alike. Hess balances a thorough knowledge of the battle lines with a deep understanding of what was happening within the occupied territories.In addition to a mastery of logistics; Union victory hinged on making use of black manpower and developing policies for controlling constant unrest while winning campaigns. Effective use of technology; superior resource management; and an aggressive confidence went hand in hand with Federal success on the battlefield. In the end; Confederates did not have the manpower; supplies; transportation potential; or leadership to counter Union initiatives in this critical arena.
#1703950 in Books The University of North Carolina Press 2004-11-29Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 .88 x 6.18 x 9.32l; 1.11 #File Name: 0807829099272 pages
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Must Read for anyone interested in history of the Antebellum SouthBy HaleyI've read this book two times and loved it so much I had to buy my own copy! I am intrigued by the history of the Antebellum era; and Thomas Buchanan presents a well-researched look at life on and around the Mississippi river for African Americans; both enslaved and free. It is a well organized and easy read. African Americans served as laborers; waiters; porters etc. The success of the commerce on the Mississippi depended on them. The mobility of African Americans working the major waterway and tributaries provided them some measure of freedom.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. interesting book; lazy kindle adaptationBy Eve BeglarianThis is a well-researched and smoothly written account of African-American life on the steamboats of the Mississippi before and after the Civil War; highly recommended. However; I strongly resent paying nearly $15.00 for a kindle edition which does not make active links to the (extensive and interesting) notes. I can forgive not live-linking the index; since one can keyword search quite easily; but what's the excuse for not making footnotes live links on the kindle? shame shame shame!!!1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Important contribution to the study of black antebellum lifeBy J. EvansThomas Buchanan follows David Cecelski's study of North Carolina's black maritime sailors with this excellent study of black steamboat workers on the Mississippi. Buchanan describes the culture in which the free black and enslaved steamboat crewmen lived; their importance to the southern antebellum economy; as well as; their impact on the institution of slavery. It is in this area that Buchanan an important contribution to our understanding of African American resistance to slavery.John Hope Franklin and Loren Schweninger's book on runaway slaves is the most extensive treatments of the subject. Unfortunately; they give short shrift to the importance of the Mississippi River and the steamboat trade as a means of escaping slavery. Buchanan corrects this omission by arguing that African Americans; both free and slave; were a vital part of the steamboat industry's labor force. Runaway slaves from throughout the South often made their escape by blending in with other black steamboat workers and riding steamboats out of slavery. Although aware of the problem; and although numerous measures were enacted to stop it; Southerners were never able to completely stop the flow of slaves escaping by riverboat.In addition to this book; Buchanan has written two articles on this subject. I recommend all them to anyone interested in the study of African American antebellum life.
