12/23/2004

Civil War irregulars, a cottage industry for writers

There have been a number of books published on Civil War irregulars since 2000. Just this year, we have seen:
* The Civil War in Appalachia
* Enemies of the Country
* Scalawags: Southern Dissenters in the Civil War and Reconstruction
* Loyalty and Loss: Alabama's Unionists in the Civil War and Reconstruction
* Civil War and Revolution on the Rio Grande Frontier
* The Confederate Dirty War
* The Battle of Carthage: Border War in Southwest Missouri July 5, 1861

That's a lot but it's not all of it. In compiling the Civil War Book News this year, from which this list is taken, I had overlooked a title: The Uncivil War: Irregular Warfare in the Upper South 1861-1865. Uncivil War looks interesting until you get to bits like this:

"Theirs [the CSA's] was a conservative revolution, aimed a maintaining the status quo and guaranteeing additional rights and privileges to the upper classes."

Someone has eaten of the fruit of the grand summation tree, planted and watered by history-challenged blowhards. Put down your official handbook for interpreting the Civil War, dear author, stop embarassing yourself, and do your topic justice.