About the Author

WILLIAM L. SHEA is professor of history at the University of Arkansas at Monticello. He is coauthor of several books, including Pea Ridge: Civil War Campaign in the West (UNC Press) and Vicksburg Is the Key: The Struggle for the Mississippi River.

Reviews

�A�ssured of a place among the best of all studies that have been published on Civil War campaigns."American Historical Review"

"Pea Ridge" is destined to become a Civil War classic and a model for writing military history."Civil War History"

[A]ssured of a place among the best of all studies that have been published on Civil War campaigns."American Historical Review"

A model campaign history that merits recognition as a major contribution to the literature on Civil War military operations."Journal of Military History"

A thoroughly researched and well-told account of an important but often neglected Civil War encounter."Kirkus Reviews"

Shines welcome light on the war's largest battle west of the Mississippi."USA Today"

YAssured of a place among the best of all studies that have been published on Civil War campaigns.

"American Historical Review"

"Pea Ridge" is destined to become a Civil War classic and a model for writing military history.

"Civil War History"

[A]ssured of a place among the best of all studies that have been published on Civil War campaigns.

"American Historical Review"

A model campaign history that merits recognition as a major contribution to the literature on Civil War military operations.

"Journal of Military History"

A thoroughly researched and well-told account of an important but often neglected Civil War encounter.

"Kirkus Reviews"

Shines welcome light on the war's largest battle west of the Mississippi.

"USA Today"

The battle of Pea Ridge, fought in northwestern Arkansas in March 1862, was probably the most important trans-Mississippi battle of the Civil War. It was unusual in the use of Indian troops and in the Confederates' numerical superiority, better supplies, and inferior leadership. The battle ended any serious Confederate threat to Missouri and opened the Union's path into Arkansas. The book offers the rich tactical detail, maps, and order of battle that military scholars love but retains a very readable style combined with liberal use of recollections of the troops and leaders involved. Shea (history, Univ. of Arkansas) and Hess (history, Lincoln Memorial Univ.) do, however, suffer from a touch of logorrhea; the narrative rumbles along for nearly 100 pages after the battle ends. Nonetheless, this is an important book for academic libraries and for public libraries in the region. BOMC and History Book Club selections.-- Fritz Buckallew, Univ. of Central Oklahoma Lib., Edmond