DOC Three Years With Quantrell: A True Story by O. S. Barton in History

Review

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Paints a little different face on the not so gallant Yankee invaders during the War of Northern Aggression.By pat bocciaEnjoyed the "front row" seat reading this. Throughout my life I've seen the oft dramatized notorious side to the adventures of Quantrill; the James Bros.; Youngers; etc. as portrayed in the many TV shows and movies; where they often take extraordinary artistic license that " loosely" interpret the role these men played in fighting for a noble but lost cause. They were certainly no angels; but Americans have always had to resort to brutal and aggressive guerrilla type warfare when fighting a much larger; better equipped invading army. In its narrative you're riding right along with these men as they fight a guerrilla war against the invading Union army and their opportunistic Red Leg raiders who preyed on Dixie and the Southerners who called it home.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Eyewitness Participant of Civil War Reveals Seldom Told InfoBy A. ReaderJohn McCorkle; who dictated this book to author O.S. Barton; states at the end that the book was “…written in the spirit expressed in the language of Abraham Lincoln; ‘with malice toward none and with charity to all.’ “ Throughout the reading; this spirit seemed to have been embraced; with the exceptions being when Mr. McCorkle described what he undoubtedly felt were crimes; and not acts by honorable soldiers.John McCorkle joined up with Colonel Quantrill in August of 1862; and rode under his command until the end of the Civil War in 1865. Mr. McCorkle includes some of the more recognizable names of others in Quantrill’s command; most notably Cole and Jim Younger and Frank and Jesse James. The book details the different battles and skirmishes over those three years; which only came to an end after the surrender of General Lee.What is most interesting are the details surrounding Mr. McCorkle’s three years as a soldier; and the actions of Southern citizens who were not part of the fight but were still active supporters. This period of history occurred a time when brother fought brother; and Federal and Confederate supporters were many times only separated by the fences of each other’s farms. Mr. McCorkle’s actions also mirrored those of other soldiers who lived in the Missouri-Kansas part of the country; who became extremely dedicated soldiers after being affected by atrocities committed by Federal soldiers. (One does have to keep in perspective the bloody history of that section of the country in the few years previous to the war; which certainly would have an effect on everyone; no matter which side of the conflict they chose to stand).Whether you have read anything about the Civil War or this is your first time; “Three Years with Quantrill” will present a different perspective on the motives of Confederate soldiers. As a book; it may not be the best written piece of literature; but as a document of recorded personal history; it is priceless. Five stars.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Learned a LotBy LeeOld-fashioned prose; but no matter. I found this book utterly fascinating; in large part because I was born and raised in Quantrill's stomping grounds; if you will. In fact Quantrill is buried a few miles south of my home town and Bloody Bill Anderson; a few miles north. That notwithstanding; I was able to glean quite a bit of new information from this record. Never underestimate the importance of a primary source.