Twenty-seventh Louisiana Volunteer Infantry, by Terry G. Scriber [2006, Pelican Publishing Company, Gretna, Louisiana]

After reading the history of a campaign, I like to read regimental histories of the units that fought there. This book covers the history of the 27th Louisiana Regiment, which, for most of its existence, served as part of the garrison at Vicksburg, and endured the siege of the city from beginning to bitter end.

The book's narrative is an easy read -- clear and precise, a very well-written book. Fully two-thirds of its 570 pages are devoted to a "Biographical Register" of every man in the regiment -- including annotated service records, along with pension records and genealogical information. Includes some maps, sketches and photographs -- an extraordinarily detailed photograph of the USS Winona appears on page 57.

A major drawback regarding this book -- no effort was made to footnote it, and only a cursory "Selected Bibliography" is given at the end. While I have absolutely no reason to doubt the accuracy of the information contained in the book, I am very reluctant to cite as a source any book which is not footnoted.

For those who want to read a good, detailed book on Vicksburg from the perspective of a single regiment, I would highly recommend it, and give it an "A" rating.

Likewise, for those who are researching individual Louisiana soldiers, the Biographical Register earns this book a solid "A+".

As a research tool, due to the lack of footnotes and comprehensive bibliography, I'm being very charitable in giving it a "C" rating.

Depending on what you want out of a Civil War book, you'll either love it, or just like it. Personally, I liked it a lot, and learned some new and interesting minutiae about the Vicksburg campaign. I just wish it had been properly footnoted.