Description
Both the Union and the Confederacy had a vested interest in Missouri throughout the war. The state offered control of both the lower Mississippi valley and the Missouri River, strategic areas that could greatly factor into either side's success or failure. Control of St. Louis and mid-Missouri were vital for controlling the West, and rail lines leading across the state offered an important connection between eastern states and the communities out west. The Confederacy sought to maintain the Ozark Mountains as a northern border, which allowed concentrations of rebel troops to build in the Mississippi valley. With such valuable stock at risk, Lincoln registered the importance of keeping rebel troops out of Missouri, and so began the conventional battles investigated by Gerteis.
The first book-length examination of its kind, The Civil War in Missouri: A Military History dares to challenge the prevailing opinion that Missouri battles made only minor contributions to the war. Gerteis specifically focuses not only on the principal conventional battles in the state but also on the effects these battles had on both sides national aspirations. This work broadens the scope of traditional Civil War studies to include the losses and wins of Missouri, in turn creating a more accurate and encompassing narrative of the nation's history.
About the Author
Louis S. Gerteis is Professor of History at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, USA. He is the author or editor of four other books, including St. Louis from Village to Metropolis: Essays from the Missouri Historical Review, 1906-2006. He lives in St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
Book Information
ISBN 9780826220783
Author Louis S. Gerteis
Format Paperback
Page Count 277
Imprint University of Missouri Press
Publisher University of Missouri Press
Weight(grams) 414g