Booknotes: Hidden History of Civil War South Carolina

New Arrival:

• Hidden History of Civil War South Carolina by D. Michael Thomas (Arcadia Pub and The Hist Press, 2025).

The Hidden History series published by The History Press has numerous Civil War-related titles under its belt, the collection of short essays in each volume covering either cities or states. The newest one is Hidden History of Civil War South Carolina. In it, author D. Michael Thomas "has uncovered fifty accounts of lost history pertaining to the state and its men during the war."

From the description: A sampling includes the story of when a "single South Carolinian captured nearly six hundred Union soldiers. See also Lieutenant Alexander Chisolm, who had an extraordinary career [as General Beauregard's ADC]. See the connection between South Carolina College and its Confederate generals. Learn little-known tales about naval operations from the Union and the Confederacy and witness the recovery of the state’s “Gettysburg Dead.”"

The fifty accounts follow a chapter-length overview of the Civil War in South Carolina. The anthology is organized into six sections: "The Early Days," "Leadership," "Blockade of South Carolina's Coast," "Naval Operations 1861-1865," "Soldiers' Stories," and finally "Postwar Years and Remembrance." The text is annotated and supplemented by a scattering photographs and illustrations.

I received a copy early for review consideration. Official release will be in the first week of February.