Civil War in the Ozarks

"It's great to see a revised edition of this Civil War classic as the war west of the Mississippi gets more critical attention from scholars."-Ozarks Mountaineer

"This book is highly recommended." -Curled Up with a Good Book

In this revised edition, the late Phillip W. Steele and Steve Cottrell provide new insight into the clashes that occurred in the Ozarks and additional commentary from experts. Explanations of the political and cultural conditions create a backdrop for the drama that unfolded as a result. An updated map is also included. In writing the original version of Civil War in the Ozarks, the authors extensively researched the battles taking place between 1861 and 1865. With meticulous detail, they chronicle the heroes, outlaws, and peacemakers who were at the center of this hot-blooded battleground.

Skirmishes between the abolitionist Kansas Jayhawkers and slaveholders in Arkansas and Missouri began years before the firing upon Fort Sumter, making the Ozarks a volatile and dangerous region during the Civil War. Although many citizens of Missouri wished to remain neutral, they reluctantly found themselves caught in the crossfire of raids between the two groups. Relocated Indian tribes of present-day Oklahoma also fell prey to the vicious fighting. As the war crept westward, more groups were drawn into the conflict, making the Ozarks one of the bloodiest regions in the battle between the Blue and Gray.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Phillip W. Steele is the author of several Pelican titles, including The Family Story of Bonnie and Clyde, Jesse and Frank James: The Family History, The Last Cherokee Warriors, Outlaws and Gunfighters of the Old West, and Ozark Tales and Superstitions. He was a member of the Western Writers of America, the Jesse James Historical Society, and the National Outlaw and Lawman History Association. Steele passed away in 2007.

Former high-school teacher Steve Cottrell is a descendant of a Sixth Kansas Cavalry member who served in the Indian Territory during the Civil War. He has written extensively on the subject, and his books include Civil War in the Indian Territory, Civil War in Tennessee, and Civil War in Texas and New Mexico Territory. Cottrell resides in Springdale, Arkansas.