For many, the Civil War was a struggle between North and South; however for the residents of Lawrence, Kansas, the Civil War was a struggle of East and West. In 1856, when John Brown killed five proslavery supporters in Kansas, the Kansas-Missouri border became a center of turmoil. Jayhawkers crossed into Missouri to wreak havoc, only to be countered by raids into Kansas. Not until William Quantrill staged his raid of August 21, 1863 on the sleeping town of Lawrence had the raids reached such a fevered pitch. Slaughtering townspeople and burning buildings, Quantrill left behind a near-barren wasteland. Goodrich relates this story of Quantrill and his raid in a dramatic and spellbinding manner. For the residents of Kansas and Missouri, these border wars were their own private hell; there was no gallantry or honor for these participants. Recommended for most libraries. History Book Club alternate.-- Barbara Zaborowski, Cambria Cty. Lib., Johnstown, Pa.
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