Category Archives: Civil War Books

The Spectre of Death Rode the Land: A Southern Family Caught Up in the Union Invasion of Missouri, 1861-1865 by Lois Glass Webb reviewed by Deb Houdek Rule for Civil War St. Louis “The war in Southeast Missouri was not … Continue reading→

Autobiography of Samuel S. Hildebrand, Edited by Kirby Ross reviewed by Deb Houdek Rule for Civil War St. Louis “Hooray for Hildebrand,” the bandits at the Ste. Genevieve robbery (presumably the ultimately famous James-Younger gang) shouted as they rode out … Continue reading→

Guerrilla Season by Pat Hughes reviewed by Deb Houdek Rule for Civil War St. Louis Season of light, season of darkness… this was 1863 in Clay County in northern Missouri. Boys hunted, swam, and played with their friends. They also … Continue reading→

Vengeance In My Heart: A Novel of the Civil War by David K. Moore reviewed by Deb Houdek Rule for Civil War St. Louis Cover blurb: In 1863, Confederate guerrillas raided Lawrence, Kansas, unleashing in turn a torrent of revenge … Continue reading→

When the Heavens Fell: The Youngers in Stillwater Prison and The Great Cole Younger & Frank James Historical Wild West Show by John Koblas reviewed by Deb Houdek Rule for Civil War St. Louis Author John Koblas adds two new … Continue reading→

Blessed Are the Peacemakers by Joe W. Smith reviewed by Deb Houdek Rule for Civil War St. Louis Joe W. Smith, author of “Blessed Are the Peacemakers” tackles the difficult subject of the bushwhacker war in the Ozark countryside of … Continue reading→

Recollection of Alexander H. Stephens: His Diary Kept When a Prisoner at Fort Warren, Boston Harbour 1865 by Alexander Hamilton Stephens by Deb Houdek Rule for Civil War St. Louis This is the journal of Alexander Stephens, the Vice President … Continue reading→

Story of Cole Younger: By Himself by Cole Younger reviewed by Deb Houdek Rule for Civil War St. Louis Cole Younger’s autobiography doesn’t answer all the questions. It creates more. For one thing, Cole Younger claims that the Northfield robbery, … Continue reading→

Cole Younger: Last of the Great Outlaws by Homer Croy reviewed by Deb Houdek Rule for Civil War St. Louis Homer Croy is a first-rate storyteller in a very casual, homey sort of way. He writes this book about Cole … Continue reading→