Monday, August 18, 2008

Booknotes II (August 08)

August list of book acquisitions (Part II):

Vanishing Footprints: The Twenty-Second Iowa Volunteer Infantry in the Civil War by Samuel D. Pryce and edited by Jeffry C. Burden (The Camp Pope Bookshop, 2008). Beginning life as a massive unpublished manuscript penned by unit veteran Pryce, this history of the 22nd Iowa has been streamlined and edited by Burden. The unit itself had an interesting wartime odyssey, including stops in Missouri, Mississippi, Texas, Georgia, and Virginia.

Shenandoah 1862: Stonewall Jackson's Valley Campaign by Peter Cozzens (Univ. of North Carolina Press, 2008). Advance copy in hand, I interviewed the author in July [first of two parts here]. With the recent arrival of the retail version, the book review is now complete and will be posted after the official release date (August 22).

Allatoona Pass: A Needless Effusion of Blood by William R. Scaife (Etowah County Historical Society, 1995). In terms of terrain and troop movement detail, the depth and beauty of Scaife's maps are difficult to beat; but then again few even try. What the experts think of the accuracy of the author's cartographic work I have no idea, but I haven't heard any big complaints.

3 comments:

  1. In regards to Scaife's cartography work, it is very good over all. His work on Allatoona is currently the best thing that has ever been done on the battle.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Lee,
    Thanks for the comment. I've looked through all his books, and they are certainly atypical in that the maps are the focal point, with the text in a supporting role. The amount of research needed to construct his maps must be significant, yet the text lacks detail and his bibliographies are painfully thin.

    Drew

    ReplyDelete
  3. The 22nd Iowa book is paperback only. Mr. Kenyon says hardcover will not be done. I enjoy your blog. JAMES MCCORRY

    ReplyDelete

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