Following the loss of the CSS Arkansas in early August 1862; Union and Confederate eyes turned to the Yazoo River; which formed the developing northern flank for the South's fortress at Vicksburg; Mississippi. For much of the next year; Federal efforts to capture the citadel focused on possession of that stream. Huge battles and mighty expeditions were launched (Chickasaw Bayou; Yazoo Pass; Steele's Bayou) from that direction; but the city; guarded by stout defenses; swamps; and motivated defenders; could not be turned. Finally; Union troops ran down the Mississippi and came up from the south and the river defenses and the bastion itself were taken from the east. From July 1863 to August 1864; sporadic Confederate resistance necessitated continued Federal attention. This book recounts the whole story.
#3019552 in Books McFarland 2009-05-13Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.90 x 1.30 x 6.90l; 1.75 #File Name: 0786443448444 pages
Review
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Well written; thorough march with the 3 BattalionBy John COSuper read. Through and acurate. I followed my great;great grandfather's foot steps in 1862. Awesome expirence! Great study of a MS Battalion in our Civil War.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Complete and detailed as one could ask forBy BomojazWhat started off as a family history project; ended up being an extremely detailed and informative account of the 3rd Mississippi Battalion ("Hardcastle's Battalion"). Formed at the end of 1861; it was renamed the 45th Mississippi Regiment in December 1862 because another unit; commanded by D.W. Hurst; had the same identification. The book relates everything there is to know about the battalion/regiment; including minute explication of their battles and movements; who they faced on the field; what other actions were going on around them; and; through letters and diaries; the responses of the soldiers.Initially with the Army of the Mississippi and then the Army of Tennessee; their first major engagement was at Shiloh; they also were at Perryville; Murfreesboro; Chickamauga; Atlanta; Franklin; Nashville; and; finally; Bentonville; NC. Included as an appendix is the prison diary of Lt. Samuel Asbury; who was wounded and captured at Murfreesboro; TN; and spent a good part of 1864 at the Union prison at Fort Delaware. His diary indicates he had a pretty good time of it ("have been treated very well; had plenty to eat; etc."). Also included is a complete annotated roster of everyone who served in the battalion; a major achievement in itself.The book is a tremendous research source and covers a lot of ground in great detail; it also is entertaining (if accounts of men in war can ever truly be that) as Williamson quotes frequently from soldiers' letters and diaries relating the human touch ("Warm. Came out to Jim's for dinner; go back directly. Rec'd 4 letters from my Sallie.") An excellent regimental history.
