The Prairie Boys go to War. The Fifth Illinois Cavalry 1861-1865, is now available through Southern Illinois Univ. press, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and any other large book retailer. The history covers regimental organization, and the Fifth's involvement in battles along the Mississippi, including the conquest of Arkansas, Arkansas Post, Taylor's Creek, Vicksburg, Meridian, and all the little skirmishes in between. The history also examines the cultural heritage of the Fifth soldiers, and how their lives prior to the war shaped their war opinions and experiences. There are two chapters about the Federal cavalry's experiences in Arkansas from July 1862 to May 1863.