Gray Ghosts of the Confederacy: Guerrilla Warfare in the West, 1861-1865
by Richard S. Brownlee
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Book Summary Information
Author: Richard S. BrownleeEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1984-02
ISBN: 0807111627
Number of pages: 274
Publisher: Louisiana State Univ Pr
Book Reviews of Gray Ghosts of the Confederacy: Guerrilla Warfare in the West, 1861-1865
Book Review: A Great Read. Excellent Account of Missouri and Kansas
Summary: 5 Stars
Gray Ghosts of the Confederacy by Brownlee, is an excellent book. It not only covers the Civil war years (1861-1865), but also the Kansas/Missouri border 'wars' prior to the Civil War. Most Civil war books focus on the big battles, the east and south. This takes a much needed honest unbiased look at one of the bloodiest, longest, and important parts of the Civil War. It's not totally about Slavery vs. Free, North against south, Union vs. confederacy, or about only the 'big' guerrilla (bushwhackers) like Anderson, Quantrill, and Porter. Brownlee takes a very objective view to write not only what happened, but the politics, people, power struggles and atmosphere of the time. Most of the sources are newspapers, and documents from the time (into the 1900's) as well as other recognized authorities and writers. As historians have long recognized, the Civil War in and of itself was not really just about freeing slaves. Missourians and Kansans and many other states simply wanted the right and freedom to govern themselves. Most Missourians while sympathetic to the south didn't own slaves. The few who did often worked beside their slaves, and treated them so well, they were more like employees than slaves. Within the rural areas, Missouri and Kansas farmers and landowners fought to protect their property, homes, land, and families. Both 'Blue' and 'Grey' had guerrilla raiders, bushwhackers, and rogues in Missouri and Kansas throught the mid 1850's to late 1860's. Some fought for what they beleived to be the 'right' cause (north or south). Some fought as a matter of necessity (defending and protecting their way of life). Some fought for personal gain by taking advantage of the politics and times. "Gray Ghosts" gives an excellent view of all aspects of these Guerillas and Bushwhackers. I noticed in the book the 1958 copyright date, (as well as 1968 and later dates), so I'm not exactly sure when Brownlee wrote the book, but whenever it was, he definitely did a fair and just accounting of what Missouri and Kansas were like during these times.
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