Forum and Jim,

It used to be that those of us not that sharp on all the varieties of Missouri Confederate units would have to use Crute or Sifakis to try to tell them apart and still not be too sure what is what. As time goes by a copy of Crute or Sifakis is getting to be hard to find and very expensive.

Jim McGhee's new book by The University of Arkansas Press will take away that problem. Each unit is identified with its higher ranked officers, a thumbnail history, list of other sources to consult for more information, and even a list of which companies came from which Missouri counties. I really like how each unit is identified by all its possible titles including not just the number but the commanders' names, also. The index is first rate, too, and also in the back is an additional bibliography. You can tell a history guy because he always looks in the back of every book. Jim's new work is set up so even I can find answers fast about Missouri Confederates. Excellent work, Jim. Congratualtions on a job well done and very needed!

I will be using this along with your 2001 "Missouri Confederates: Guide to Sources for Confederate Soldiers and Units 1861-1865" by Two Trails in Independence. This work is a more complete bibiography on each of the Missouri Confederate outfits for in-depth research into individual units.

I now have both of these in my MO CW research section.

Bruce Nichols