Reading Room

Here are excerpts from My new book thats in progress:

And recomended other works out there.

This is my first Civil War book and hopefully it will expand into others. I'm still in the research stage with a few rough chapters.

My research shows the very lack of the Trans-Mississippi theater in the printed form! I'm looking to help fill a gap in the Civil War history genra, that has left the west, Arkansas in particularly for the east, and it's grand battles without working in the overall scope of the Arkansas and Trans-Mississippi area. Arkansas troops from both sides and units from other states that served here. Their accomplishments in this theater of the Civil War has waited long enough.

Any help with maps, sources, and copies of letters/diaries/journals/papers/flags/stats of troops raised (IE: white, free black, slave ect.), would be of great help as well as tips on focus for the 1861-65 Arkansas war.

Thanks for the help I'll keep you updated as well as any stuff I get will be shared with any and all as well.

As with all the books that I've looked through for form and style all contributions may be noted in footnote or caption with the work, all contributed work will be in the bibliography.

Any help in passing the word along to others would be great.

Thanks

James Acerra

Books to look for, or for your collection:

This section will highlight books that are rated by myself and others as good to have or read for the History and Fantasy enthusiast .

"Civil War Medicine": Challenges and Triumphs

Written by Dr. Bollet

"In the Footsteps of Robert E. Lee,"

"In the Footsteps of Stonewall Jackson"

Guidebooks: written by Clint Johnson

"Civil War Command and Strategy"

Written by Archer Jones

"Ninety-Eight Days"

Written by: Warren E. Grabau's

"U.S Army War College Guide"

Written by the U.S. Army War Collage

"Battles and Leaders of the Civil War" IV vol. Set

Various Editors and Writers

A great collection and a great resource for ACW. JRA

"Combat: The Civil War"

Edited by Don Congdon

Another great read and a grateful present from my In-Laws. JRA

'Rebels and Yankees": 4 Vol. Set.

Written by William C. Davis

with technical advise by Russ A. Pritchard

Great pictorial and resource guide. JRA

Send in your book choices or suggested book for the list.

From Chapter 3, SE Arkansas 1861:

[These excerpts will be rotated out as space allows.]

4/23/61 Federal post of Fort Smith seized by State troops .

Upon the abandonment of the post by the Federal troops at 9:00 pm 4/23/61 the command of Capt. Sturgis 1st US Cavalry and due to the untenable nature (i.e.: lack of supplies, and the nature of local conditions) the post of Fort Smith fell to:

Col. Borland's (AR) State troops. This situation being prompted by the common knowledge of the local commanders and lack of orders, either due to interception or time constraints leaving Capt. Sturgis in the position of retreat or combat and opening the Civil War on his authority alone. No Captain would even consider this in the 1860's or even today.

It is shown by orders issued from the U.S. War Dept. dated 2/22/61 to halt any movement of troops from Ft. Smith and later by some of the first POWs (at large upon parole) Maj. R.C. Gatlin 5th US Infantry and Capt. Montgomery US Quatermasters Dept. Also by Col. Borland in command of (AR) State Troops acting under the authority of Gov. Rector took the post of Fort Smith even before the state had succeeded from the Union.

From the telegraph and mail reports it is seen that even with the requests from prominent citizens dating from February, in Washington as well as in State requests that the posts and forts and material of the Federal government were lost . Under state authority and by direction of the Governor this post as well as others in the state, under Federal authority were taken into state custody awaiting the vote of the convention in May.

Yours in service James

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