I just looked through the current issue of the Journal of Southern History and ran across a pretty glowing review of a book called the Autobiography of Samuel S. Hildebrand, published by the University of Arkansas Press. I have long been interested in guerrilla warfare during the Civil War, and have suspected there was more to it in Missouri than just along the Kansas border. I have nothing against Quantrill--there have been some good books published on him (and some bad ones). You might say that I am hungry for a little change of Missouri guerrilla scenery--both geographically and by subject. The Journal of Southern History review on the Hildebrand book was by an academic. I am wondering whether the book is suited mostly for academic purposes, or if any lay person out there who might have read the book can give me their opinion of it before I decide if it is worth purchasing.