American Civil War Fortifications (3): The Mississippi and River Forts

by Ron Field, Adam Hook (Illustrator)

Overview

The Mississippi River played a decisive role in the American Civil War. The Confederate fortifications that controlled the lower Mississippi valley were put to the test in the lengthy Federal campaign of 1862-63. Vicksburg was a fortress city, known as the 'Gibraltar of the Confederacy', whose capture was seen as the key to victory in the war. This book explores the fortifications of the river valley, focusing on Vicksburg and its defences which boasted a network of forts, rifle pits and cannon embrasures surrounding the city, a well as examining the strengths and weaknesses of the fortifications when under siege. Also examined are numerous other fortified strongholds, including New Orleans, Port Hudson, New Madrid, and forts Henry and Donelson, all lavishly illustrated with full-colour artwork and cutaways.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781472805201
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date:	08/10/2013
Series:	Fortress , #68
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	64
File size:	9 MB

About the Author

Ron Field was born in 1943. A history teacher for over 30 years, Ron is presently Head of History at the Cotswold School in Burton-on-the-Water. He was awarded the Fulbright Scholarship in 1982 and taught at Piedmont High School in California from 1982–83. He has traveled extensively in the US conducting research at numerous libraries, archives and museums, and has written numerous books on 19th-century American history. This is his fourth book for the Osprey Fortress series.

Adam Hook studied graphic design, and began his work as an illustrator in 1983. He specializes in detailed historical reconstructions, and has illustrated Osprey titles on the Aztecs, the Greeks, several 19th century American subjects, and a number of books in the Fortress series. His work features in exhibitions and publications throughout the world.
Ron Field is an internationally acknowledged expert on US military history. Awarded a Fulbright Scholarship in 1982, he taught History at Piedmont High School in California from 1982 to 1983, and was then Head of History at the Cotswold School in Bourton-on-the-Water, UK, until his retirement in 2007. In 2005 he was elected a Fellow of the Company of Military Historians, based in Washington, DC, and was awarded its Emerson Writing Award in 2013.
Adam Hook studied graphic design, and began his work as an illustrator in 1983. He specializes in detailed historical reconstructions, and has illustrated Osprey titles on subjects as diverse as the Aztecs, the Ancient Greeks, Roman battle tactics, 19th-century American subjects, the modern Chinese Army, and the history of fortification. His work features in exhibitions and publications throughout the world.

Table of Contents

Introduction     4
Chronology     6
The river campaigns, 1861-64     7
The down-river campaign
The up-river campaign
The fortifications of Vicksburg, 1862-63     29
The Confederate fortifications
The Union siege lines
Life in the Vicksburg fortifications     51
The fate of the fortifications     56
Glossary     58
Visiting the forts today     61
Bibliography and further reading     63
Index     64

Editorial Reviews

...this worthwhile review of an important topic is valuable for anyone interested in 19th century fortifications.” —Bolling Smith, Coastal Defense Journal (February 2008)

“This book explores the defensive Civil War constructs of the Mississippi River valley, focusing on Vicksburg, which boasted a network of forts, rifle pits, and cannon embrasures. Also examined are numerous other strongholds, including New Orleans, Port Hudson, New Madrid, and forts Henry and Donelson. A section titled 'Visiting the Forts Today' is included.” —Laura O. Wilson, Missouri Historical Review (July 2008)

“This book by Ron Field is an outstanding addition to the Fortress series and one that no student of the genre should be without.” —Scott Van Aken, modelingmadness.com (November 2007)

“The information on some of these lesser known fortifications and the guide value to Vicksburg certainly make this book a useful addition along with the author's other volume on Civil War fortifications.” —J.E. Kaufmann, SITEO Newsletter (December 2007)

“Ron Field's American Civil War Fortifications (3): The Mississippi and River Forts narrows the focus to Confederate fortifications tested during the long Federal campaign of 1862-63. Major sites of such fortification are surveyed for their military impact.” —The California Bookwatch (January 2008)

From the Publisher