Description:
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 is often seen as the key to victory in the war.
This book explores the fortifications of the river valley, focusing on Vicksburg and its defenses which boasted a network of forts, rifle pits, and cannon embrasures surrounding the city and 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 color artwork and cutaways.Brief description: 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.
Review Quotes:
"...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)