Ron Skellie's new book : "Lest We Forget - The Immortal Seventh Mississippi". is one of the best regimental histories that I've read in a long time.
Skellie provides a detailed history of the regiment through the personal letters written by the men themselves .

Commentary is minimal, and only used to provide a chronological calendar of where the regiment was located specific times.

These letters cover the good, bad & ugly of everything related to the typical experience of all Mississippians in the Western Armies . From establishing their local companies in 1861 to their transformation into
experienced veterans of The Army of Tennessee during the final days of the War, This is a must read for anyone interested in Mississippi Confederate History ,
and specifically "The high Pressure Brigade".

I had no idea that these Mississippi troops originally assigned to the Gulf Coast witnessed more naval action in the Mississippi Sound than most history books describe.
" Trips to a New Orleans Tailor for new uniforms " "Eating fried oysters in Bay St. Louis " ... These letters paint a picture of basically a good life in the CS Army prior to the Horrors of War soon to be encountered at Shiloh .