Booknotes (March '11)

New Arrivals:
1. Confederate Torpedoes: Two Illustrated 19th Century Works with New Appendices and Photographs by Gabriel J. Rains and Peter S. Michie, edited by Herbert M. Schiller (McFarland, 2011).

This new book reproduces two old manuscripts, the first is a manual authored by Confederate Torpedo Bureau head General Gabriel Rains and the second an assessment of the enemy's "infernal machine" use by Union engineer officedr Peter Michie. The volume is heavily illustrated, with notes, appendices, and additional photos provided by the editor.

2.  An Illustrated Guide to the Vicksburg Campaign & National Military Park by Jeff Giambrone (Communications Arts Co., 2011).

This is a full ranging guidebook to Vicksburg's Civil War, including a town history; civilian life, weapons, and Reconstruction discussions; and summaries of the campaign and associated battles in Louisiana and Mississippi. A register of local architecture, earthwork locations, cemetery plots, and sculptures & monuments [a huge portion of the book] is also present. Looks like a really handy book to have for a visit.