Arkansas Confederates in the Western Theater by James Willis

Arkansas Confederates in the Western Theater Reviews

• 
  Joe Owen

  "Arkansas Confederates in the Western Theater" by James Willis (Morningside Publishing, 1998, 903 pages), is the definitive history of the Ninth Arkansas Infantry Regiment. This is a complete and definitive history of the regiment that fought in the western theater of the Civil War. James Willis took over ten years researching and writing the history of the regiment and it definitely shows in this great read. The "famous old Ninth Arkansas" fought 19 battles and numerous lesser engagements from Shiloh to Bentonville and more than 1,400 originally enlisted in the regiment and at the war's end, only 32 remained standing for the final surrender in Greensboro, NC in May of 1865.
  Mr. Willis has taken all known resources to write the complete history of the regiment, and the other regiments that fought with the 9th Arkansas Infantry. His history of the regiment also ties in with the other Confederate regiments from Arkansas that fought alongside the 9th as they fought in the west as part of the Army of Tennessee. The 9th was under the command of General Daniel Harris Reynolds who led an all Arkansas division as the fourth joined with four other Arkansas regiments, some of which had already been consolidated.
  The book is divided into two parts, the first part focuses primarily on the 9th Arkansas Infantry Regiment and its marches, everyday camp life, soldiers and officers of the regiment and the battles and skirmishes they participated in. The second half of the book covers Reynolds Arkansas Brigade until the end of the war. This is an in-depth history of the 9th Arkansas and the regiments of Arkansas in the western theater of the Civil War. The appendix's are of the casualties of the Ninth Arkansas and a roster of the men. This is a long read, it is an in-depth history, and it is a well researched and documented history. This is a large read that I do believe would be quite intimidated to the "novice" reader or student of Civil War history. As stated in the dust-cover, "Soldier-for-soldier the best combat troops in the western Confederate armies hailed from the trans-Mississippi. And of these the Arkansans were second to none. The story of these Arkansans in butternut and gray is told in a compelling and action-filled narrative." I definitely agree with the statement, but the length of the book at over 900 pages must be anticipated by a reader to be a long read that cannot be casually read in a short matter of time. It took me over a month of dedicated reading to finish the book, yet I was not bored with minute detail, it is indeed a lively and fascinating read that Mr. Willis wrote and he is to be commended for the definitive history of the Ninth Arkansas Infantry Regiments and the other regiments from Arkansas in the western theater of the Civil War. Recommended!
• 
  Elh52

  For all who ever wondered, what the hell did those Arkansans do in the Civil War, this is the book for you. A wide audience, I'm sure. The editing is horrible, which makes me feel bad for the author, because his writing style is very good. But this is a great book with great anecdotes and a wonderful feel for four years of total war, from the Mississippi River to the piedmont of North Carolina. And it really should have the widest possible audience, at least among us Civil War buffs.
• 
  John

  I was a little leery starting this book, but fortunately it never ventures into lost-cause territory.
  
  What it does is present a compelling narrative of men at war through what appears to be extensively researched primary sources. Diaries and letters to home are cross referenced with military records to give the reader descriptions of the various actions, maneuvers and other trials that Arkansas soldiers in the Western Theater participated in. Among the other trials described, the book spends as much time describing the disease and hospital conditions faced as it does on any individual battle.
  
  One thing that really stood out to bring the personal nature of the losses home is how whenever the death of one of the primary sources is known, it's brought up in the narrative. For example, if a soldier's letter home was used to describe one battle, then if he dies in a later battle he will be listed at the end of the description of that battle along with the other casualties, and it will be pointed out that he was the source of that earlier anecdote. This really increases the impact of the casualties in a way that simply listing names and numbers doesn't do.