While I'm in book-review mode, I want to mention another book that is one of the most valuable Civil War research books in my collection. I can't remember if I've mentioned this book before, so please forgive me if this post is redundant.

The book is Gen. John S. Marmaduke's Trans-Mississippi Letter and Order Book: 1862-1864, transcribed by that shining light of Civil War Missouriana, Carolyn Bartels. The book was published in 2000 in two volumes, totalling 542 pages. This is not a book that you sit down and read from cover to cover in your easy-chair. This is a hard-core researcher's dream come true. It's chock-full of the documents, letters, reports, etc., of a Trans-Mississippi combat division in camp and in the field. It contains routine daily minutiae, such as reports of supplies, armaments, promotions, discharges, regimental returns, etc.; transcripts of courts-martial; special and general orders; after-action reports; and just about every other kind of Civil War document you can imagine. Although the majority of the information concerns Missouri troops, there are plenty of references to Arkansas troops as well.

I am continually referring back to this book. In fact, my copy is now nearly illegible due to the number of underlinings and margin notes I've scribbled on just about every page. This is a constant source of "treasure". I couldn't get along without this book.

I got my copy from the Camp Pope Bookshop.

For the serious researcher, I give this book an "A+" rating.