Synopses & Reviews
Struggle for the Heartland tells the story surrounding the military campaign that began in early 1862 with the advance to Fort Henry and culminated in late May with the capture of Corinth, Mississippi. The first significant Northern penetration into the Confederate west, this campaign saw the military coming-of-age of Ulysses S. Grant and offered a hint as to where the Federals might win the war. For the South, it dashed any hopes of avoiding a protracted conflict. Stephen D. Engle colors in the details that bring great clarity and new life to the scene of these battles as well as to the social and political context in which they occurred.
Review
"A great addition to the University of Nebraska Press's series Great Campaigns of the Civil War. It is a fine example of the growing trend to incorporate economic, political, and social studies into military history."-North and South(Terry Jones, North and South, Apr 30 2002 )
Review
"A book which skillfully weaves together battlefield narrative with cogent analysis of matters beyond the immediate fighting. . . . This book represents the kind of analysis that Civil War historiography needs and deserves."-Journal of Military History(Journal of Military History, Jul 22 2002 )
Review
"Clear, concise descriptions of the military operations on both sides, the interaction of the Confederate and Union leadership, and the emerging politics and societal issues are interwoven in a thought-provoking manner, documented by a rich mixture of primary and secondary sources and bibliographical essay."--Joan Schmutzler, Ohioana Quarterly.
(Joan Schmutzler, Ohioana Quarterly)
Review
"Fresh interpretations and a skillful blending of social, political, and military considerations make this study of the action in Tennessee, Kentucky, northern Mississippi, and northern Alabama in the early stages of the war worth a look."-Christopher M. Paine, West Virginia History(Christopher M. Paine, West Virginia History, Oct 23 2003 )
Review
"Engle ably crafts important secondary works and selected primary sources into a well-written synthesis.. A concise, readable, and useful synthesis that fulfills both his purpose and that of the 'Great Campaign' series. The book serves as a fine introduction to the early 'struggle for the heartland.'"-John Fowler, Journal of Southern History
(John Fowler, Journal of Southern History)
Review
"This short, well-researched and documented study adds greatly to our understanding of the Civil War in the West."-Spencer C. Tucker, North and South
(Spencer C. Tucker, North and South, Sep 2 2005 )
About the Author
Stephen D. Engle is a professor of history at Florida Atlantic University. He is the author of The American Civil War: The War in the West, 1861-1863 and Don Carlos Buell: Most Promising of All.