The Three-Cornered War: The Union, the Confederacy, and Native Peoples in the Fight for the West

The Three-Cornered War: The Union, the Confederacy, and Native Peoples in the Fight for the West

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  • Create Date：2021-02-17 04:25:03
  • Update Date：2025-09-07
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  • Author：Megan Kate Nelson
  • ISBN：9781501152559
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Editor Reviews

One of Newsweek's 40 Must-Read Fiction and Nonfiction Books to Savor this Spring！

"Megan Kate Nelson has made an invaluable contribution to broadening our understanding of the Civil War in her riveting new book。。。 [It] is also a timely reminder that the Civil War in the Southwest was not just an interesting tidbit in the history of the American West — it was part and parcel of the confederate objective of creating an 'empire of slavery' that expanded to the west。。。 The book should be read not only by Civil War buffs and students of the American West， but by anyone who wishes to gain a deeper appreciation of American history that goes beyond the traditional lens。 It is a masterful synthesis of military and social history in one of the overlooked chapters of the American Civil War。"
—LA Review of Books

“Based on extensive archival research， Nelson’s work expands our understanding of how the Civil War affected Indigenous peoples and helped to shape the nation。 Readers interested in the Civil War and Western history will enjoy this nuanced portrait of the era。”
—Library Journal， starred

“Brisk and well-sourced。。。 Nelson effectively blends military history with a fresh look at a region typically obscured in accounts of the Civil War。 American history buffs will relish this entertaining and eye-opening portrait。”
—Publishers Weekly

“[A] useful survey for readers interested in the Civil War in its short-lived southwestern theater。”
—Kirkus Reviews

“Both engaging and unsparing。。。 [Nelson] balances the stories of individuals from all four groups with deft discussion of the big-picture issues。。。 The result is a gripping history that integrates the Southwest into broader histories of American expansion。”
—Booklist

"Nelson's book sheds light on New Mexico's importance during the war。"
—Albuquerque Journal， review

"Subtly argued and richly documented。"
—Civil War Times

"A terrific read。。。 this is a very good telling of a story that is unknown to most Americans。"
—The Reconstruction Era， blog review

“[A] useful survey for readers interested in the Civil War in its short-lived southwestern theater。”
—Kirkus Reviews

"Of the several "western theaters" in the Civil War that stretched 1800 miles from Knoxville to Tucson， the events and significance of the once farthest west is least known or understood。 Union forces in New Mexico and Arizona repulsed a Confederate attempt to conquer this region and subdued the Navajos and Apaches in a successful effort to "reconstruct" the region into the United States。 Megan Kate Nelson's beautifully written account tells this important story。"
—James M。 McPherson， author of Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era

"In the 1860s New Mexico and the greater West experienced many civil wars。 With lucid storytelling， using nine remarkable characters， Nelson reveals a chaotic， desperate struggle of Union against Confederate， Native peoples against other Native peoples， and Natives on both sides。 This is the Civil War most Americans do not know and Nelson convinces us once again that the great conflict was about slavery and the winning the West with its land and resources。 Rarely is a Civil War book so readable and so new to our understanding。"
—David W。 Blight， author of the Pulitzer-prize winning Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom

"A gripping tale of the Civil War in the West。 Exploring the interaction of a fascinating cast of characters during a time of immense change， Nelson reveals an all too human struggle for territorial control。 Shifting perspective between nine key characters — men， women， soldiers， and Native Americans — The Three-Cornered War brings this battle between peoples， armies， agendas， and the environment to living breathing life。"
—Joanne B。 Freeman， author of The Field of Blood and editor of Alexander Hamilton: Writings

"Far from the Civil War's famous battlefields， a handful of individuals decided the fate of a vast landscape。 In The Three-Cornered War， Megan Kate Nelson vividly portrays a complex struggle between peoples and armies—Navajo， Apache， Confederate， and Federal—over the mountains and deserts of the Southwest。 Fast-paced and suspenseful， Nelson's account shifts perspective from the Navajo leader Juanita to the civilian Louisa Canby， from the Chiricahua titan Mangas Coloradas to the Texan Bill Davidson， among many others， in a web of conflicting agendas and shared suffering。 This history of invasions， battles， and forced migration shapes the United States to this day—and has never been told so well。"
—T。J。 Stiles， author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Custer's Trials: A Life on the Frontier of a New America

"Symphonic in scale， The Three-Cornered War blends masterfully the intimate and the epic， weaving the biographies of nine individuals into a story of peoples—Apaches， Texans， New Mexicans， Confederates， Navajos， Federals—whose tragedies and triumphs resonate in the West we know today。"
—James F。 Brooks， author of Captives and Cousins and Mesa of Sorrows

"The 'hree-Cornered War sheds a bright light on the forgotten intersection of America's westward expansion and its cataclysmic Civil War。 Full of irony， sharp character sketches and fast-paced battle scenes， Megan Kate Nelson's book should be read by anyone who wants to understand the roots of modern America — or just wants a gripping story， powerfully told。"
—Clay Risen， author of The Crowded Hour

From the Publisher

Reviews

Likes2Read ，

I was hoping/expecting a book that provided insights into and perspectives regarding a unique aspect of the Civil War that you rarely hear about。 Unfortunately this book is primarily a set of battle tales gleaned from pieced together diary notes from a few participants or observers with no real cohesiveness。 Assume its accurate， but suspect that some of the details are conjecture and/or embellished to add drama to the story。 Only redeeming quality is that it makes for a quick read。

Rita ，

Well researched and well written book about the battles in the territory of New Mexico and Arizona， between the Union， the Confederacy， and the Native Americans during the Civil War。 The author follows the lives of several different people， using diaries and a mountain of other resources， to paint a very good picture of the events in the area。 I became very interested in their lives and the outcomes。 My only complaint was that the kindle book I read had only a few maps， but I was able to view th Well researched and well written book about the battles in the territory of New Mexico and Arizona， between the Union， the Confederacy， and the Native Americans during the Civil War。 The author follows the lives of several different people， using diaries and a mountain of other resources， to paint a very good picture of the events in the area。 I became very interested in their lives and the outcomes。 My only complaint was that the kindle book I read had only a few maps， but I was able to view these areas on Google Earth。 。。。more

Dorothy Nesbit ，

A good book with lots of details about the civil war in the west。 Most troubling history of the treatment of the Navajo people through out this period。 Hard to keep the various people/plot lines straight through the book。

Jamie Bronstein ，

I wouldn't call this book "dramatic" or "riveting。" It was interesting， but Nelson seemingly couldn't figure out who her audience was。 If it was a general reader with little historical background on the Civil War， the book was choppy， as she chose to have each chapter told from the perspective of a different historical actor， and， seemingly， in that person's voice。 Moreover， the book becomes weirdly patronizing in the chapters told from the perspective of Native Americans， and slightly racist in I wouldn't call this book "dramatic" or "riveting。" It was interesting， but Nelson seemingly couldn't figure out who her audience was。 If it was a general reader with little historical background on the Civil War， the book was choppy， as she chose to have each chapter told from the perspective of a different historical actor， and， seemingly， in that person's voice。 Moreover， the book becomes weirdly patronizing in the chapters told from the perspective of Native Americans， and slightly racist in the chapters conveyed from the perspective of （for example） US army commanders。 I think the story of the Dine Long Walk， and the imprisonment at Bosque Redondo， is probably less well-known， and I appreciated the information。 As a historian with a decent background in the place and time， I found the book completely lacking in analysis--it's a flat narrative without a thesis that becomes entirely too attenuated among all the different voices。 Despite the real drawbacks with the book， I have assigned it to my graduate seminar this semester as a specimen of military history。 I will be interested to find out what the students think。 。。。more

Online-University of-the-Left ，

A good and illuminating read on a little-known feature of the Civil War period。 Obviously， it covers how both the Union and the Confederate forces arose and contending in the region。 But it also brings in the role of the enslavement of Native peoples by the 'Hispanos，' the conflicts between Native peoples among themselves， and between all of them， and 'whites，' siding alternately with the Yankees or the Rebels， as it helped or hindered them。 The most important is the struggle of the Navajo， and A good and illuminating read on a little-known feature of the Civil War period。 Obviously， it covers how both the Union and the Confederate forces arose and contending in the region。 But it also brings in the role of the enslavement of Native peoples by the 'Hispanos，' the conflicts between Native peoples among themselves， and between all of them， and 'whites，' siding alternately with the Yankees or the Rebels， as it helped or hindered them。 The most important is the struggle of the Navajo， and their desire to keep their homeland， and the role of William Tecumseh Sherman in bringing about a 'compromise，' where the Najaho got their land back， but have to submit their children to 'civilizing' schools as a price。 Beneath all of it， is the organizing force of the railroads and gold mines。 We need this in our ongoing quest to discover 'who we are' as US Americans， warts and all。 。。。more

Beth ，

Fascinating history。 A wonderful book。My husband was raised in New Mexico near Santa Fe， and knew nothing of the Confederate occupation of his favorite city。 Two-thirds of the book covers the history of the travails of the Navajo nation。 The author not only tells the history accurately， she even includes some of it from the point of view of the wife of a Navajo leader。 A point of view that is seldom related。 My husband and I both loved this book。 A great read。 Thank you。

Michael Reilly ，

At the beginning of the Civil War， Texas was part of the Confederacy， California was part of the Union and the whole area between them was the New Mexico Territory of the United States。 That territory is now the states of New Mexico， Arizona and part of Nevada。 This is the story of the Civil War in the New Mexico Territory。 The Confederates invaded the territory。 The Union drove them back to Texas。 The Union then spend the rest of the war fighting the various Indian tribes， primarily the Apaches At the beginning of the Civil War， Texas was part of the Confederacy， California was part of the Union and the whole area between them was the New Mexico Territory of the United States。 That territory is now the states of New Mexico， Arizona and part of Nevada。 This is the story of the Civil War in the New Mexico Territory。 The Confederates invaded the territory。 The Union drove them back to Texas。 The Union then spend the rest of the war fighting the various Indian tribes， primarily the Apaches and trying to set up a reservation。 Nelson focuses of nine people including Union， Confederate and Indian participants 。 She is very good at giving a sense of the flow of armies back and forth。 The Indians originally hoped that the war between white men would work to their advantage。 They were disappointed。 Nelson is sympathetic to the plight of the Indians but does not embrace the "noble savage" stereotype。 She works hard at showing the complicated humans on every side。 Nelson tells a good story。 This is straight forward narrative history about a little known corner of the war。 。。。more

Jonathan Frankel ，

Very interesting story - had trouble following the overlapping timelines of the chapters at first， but got used to it。 Recommended。

Ammon Cornelius ，

This is really a history of the American Civil War specifically within the New Mexico Territory， so don't expect a discussion of crucial events in the Utah Territory or Colorado， such as the Massacres of Bear River and Sand Creek。 Nelson is a captivating writer， and skillfully weaves the lives of nine different figures into a mostly coherent narrative。 As is routinely the case in American history， the most unfortunate losers are the Native Americans。 Nelson provides riveting accounts of the murd This is really a history of the American Civil War specifically within the New Mexico Territory， so don't expect a discussion of crucial events in the Utah Territory or Colorado， such as the Massacres of Bear River and Sand Creek。 Nelson is a captivating writer， and skillfully weaves the lives of nine different figures into a mostly coherent narrative。 As is routinely the case in American history， the most unfortunate losers are the Native Americans。 Nelson provides riveting accounts of the murder of Mangas Coloradas， an Apache chief， as well as the human displacement of the Navajo Nation。 I personally would have liked to see Nelson use more of these Native peoples' own oral histories， rather than a reliance on secondary materials。 Overall， a good introduction to an often-ignored and important theater of the Civil War。 Unlike many history books， it is clearly targeted toward a popular audience， and will therefore be accessible to most readers。 。。。more

Samlouras ，

A wonderful account of the West during the Civil War。。。。Having lived in Arizona， California and now Colorado， the book travelsthrough the hardships of the living （and dying） during that period of history。Fascinating accounts of the women， Native Americans and soldiers whofought for their lives & beliefs。 A great opportunity to brush up on ourearly history on the west side of the U。S。！

James Alexander ，

For years I’ve read bits and pieces about how the Civil War touched the Southwest， but never found anything that took it seriously。 This book goes into depth about how the Confederacy tried to capture Arizona and New Mexico， how the Union fought back and how the native population dealt with it。 After the Confederates lost， the Union spent the rest of the war solving the “Indian Problem” with soldiers and governors who had a mix of good and bad intentions - both of which ended up badly。 Well writ For years I’ve read bits and pieces about how the Civil War touched the Southwest， but never found anything that took it seriously。 This book goes into depth about how the Confederacy tried to capture Arizona and New Mexico， how the Union fought back and how the native population dealt with it。 After the Confederates lost， the Union spent the rest of the war solving the “Indian Problem” with soldiers and governors who had a mix of good and bad intentions - both of which ended up badly。 Well written and educational！ 。。。more

Joe Schrock ，

Excellent overview of a critical but often forgotten part of our Civil War and overall dealings with Native Americans and Hispanics living in the new territories of the Southwest。

Jim Blessing ，

I've read numerous books about the Civil War， but wasn't able to get through with this one。 I've read numerous books about the Civil War， but wasn't able to get through with this one。 。。。more

Vaughn ，

Author uses stories of separate individuals to tell the bigger story and weaves the stories together nicely。 I wonder a little about something the author didn't discuss - the role of religion in actions taken by the various parties。 Author uses stories of separate individuals to tell the bigger story and weaves the stories together nicely。 I wonder a little about something the author didn't discuss - the role of religion in actions taken by the various parties。 。。。more

Randal Schmidt ，

Having read widely in history， over the years I've started to notice a trend with a certain type of book that promises far too much and that from the outside seems to present itself as an insightful examination of a broader topic with a new perspective， but inside turns out to be a tediously narrow presentation of facts on a subject that is not so much obscure as it is boring。So it is with this book。The title is misleading and the blurb from the publisher is laughable in its misrepresentation of Having read widely in history， over the years I've started to notice a trend with a certain type of book that promises far too much and that from the outside seems to present itself as an insightful examination of a broader topic with a new perspective， but inside turns out to be a tediously narrow presentation of facts on a subject that is not so much obscure as it is boring。So it is with this book。The title is misleading and the blurb from the publisher is laughable in its misrepresentation of the scope of this book: it should have been called "New Mexico in the Civil War。"Had it been titled as such， the book is not bad。 It is not very insightful and doesn't attempt much of an analysis or shed any new light， but it is a decent enough read。 What it is not is a broad look at the West and its place and meaning in Civil War history。 It's a shame that the book is not advertised more truthfully。 。。。more

Shrike58 ，

My initial response to this narrative history was to second guess myself as to whether it was worth my time， as I feared that it was just going to rehash material covered by Alvin Josephy decades ago。 Not to mention that I've seen the use of disparate personal narratives as the tent poles for a wider story often come to grief。 However， my interest was peaked when it turned out that Nelson was going to use the perspective of John Clark， Lincoln's appointment as Surveyor General of the New Mexico My initial response to this narrative history was to second guess myself as to whether it was worth my time， as I feared that it was just going to rehash material covered by Alvin Josephy decades ago。 Not to mention that I've seen the use of disparate personal narratives as the tent poles for a wider story often come to grief。 However， my interest was peaked when it turned out that Nelson was going to use the perspective of John Clark， Lincoln's appointment as Surveyor General of the New Mexico Territory， as one of her voices， as this is not a typical choice; the surveyor general of a given territory being a then important but now obscure position。It turns out that this book is a bit narrower than I thought it was going to be， and that's a good thing。 Sure， you will get coverage of the "organized" war between the Union and the Confederacy， but that was of short duration。 The real war for both Confederate and Union forces was with the Apache and Navajo nations。 The contrast there might be best illustrated by looking at the relevant men Richmond and Washington had on the scene; John Robert Baylor and James Carleton。J。R。 Baylor started out well in terms of protecting Confederate interests in New Mexico， but he was as fine an example of a Jacksonian thug in a frock coat as you might find， and had no interest in being an administrator。 His solution to the challenge of the Apache resistance was annihilation， but he was mostly too easily distracted to carry through， and satisfied himself with a raid into Mexico where he killed one household's aging house servants; they were Apache， so why not？ Jefferson Davis wound up having to write letters of apology over that incident， though Baylor never suffered any real consequences。Carleton， on the other hand， was a by-the-book U。S。 Army officer who is ill-regarded for his role in presiding over the Navajo "Long Walk，" an actual death march and failed exercise in "productive" detention that was thankfully resolved by allowing the Navajo survivors a reservation on their traditional territory。 Carleton actually comes off somewhat better in Nelson's narrative than I've usually seen， as he genuinely had some positive intentions， but refused to allow reality to temper the imperatives he was trying to satisfy。I'm probably not the person this work was aimed at but I found it worth my time and can recommend it to the the general reader， particularly if you want a story that takes non-white voices seriously。 。。。more

Mark ，

A good book about a neglected part of the Civil War。 It opens your eyes to the brutal treatment of the Native Americans and also to the ultimate treatment of Hispanic Americans。 It makes you reconsider history。

Greynomad ，

Couldn't get through the dialogue。。。。。。。。 Couldn't get through the dialogue。。。。。。。。 。。。more

Andy Barnett ，

Great look at a little known side of the Civil Wra。

Mary ，

I thoroughly enjoyed and learned from this book。 It would be a great book to use in high schools and colleges in the southwest， as it portrays an important period that is often overlooked or glossed over。 As a Coloradan， the victory of the Northern troops at Glorietta Pass is often thrown around as the day "Colorado whipped up on Texas，" but the larger story of the South's attempt to take the rich goldfields of Colorado （and California）， and the wildly unfair use of the US Army to remove the Nat I thoroughly enjoyed and learned from this book。 It would be a great book to use in high schools and colleges in the southwest， as it portrays an important period that is often overlooked or glossed over。 As a Coloradan， the victory of the Northern troops at Glorietta Pass is often thrown around as the day "Colorado whipped up on Texas，" but the larger story of the South's attempt to take the rich goldfields of Colorado （and California）， and the wildly unfair use of the US Army to remove the Native peoples from their land， are important historic moments that continue to resonate today。 。。。more

Sally ，

Excellent premise from nine points of view。 Very interesting and informative。

Donna ，

4。5 starsAs the Civil War was just starting in the East， things on the Western front were heating up， too。 On July 24， 1861， while the Battle of Manassas had yet to be fought， John Baylor occupied the important crossroads town of Mesilla in the New Mexico Territory。 In doing so， he became the first Confederate in the Civil War to successfully occupy Union territory。 The battle of Mesilla and others that followed at Valverde， Apache Canyon， and Glorieta Pass were fought to gain control of the Wes 4。5 starsAs the Civil War was just starting in the East， things on the Western front were heating up， too。 On July 24， 1861， while the Battle of Manassas had yet to be fought， John Baylor occupied the important crossroads town of Mesilla in the New Mexico Territory。 In doing so， he became the first Confederate in the Civil War to successfully occupy Union territory。 The battle of Mesilla and others that followed at Valverde， Apache Canyon， and Glorieta Pass were fought to gain control of the West。 New Mexico Territory was especially critical to both the Union and the Confederacy for the access it provided to California’s gold and ports。 But the indigenous people living off of their ancient land had a huge stake in controlling it as well。 Navajos and Chiricahua Apaches formed the third corner in the “three-cornered war” that Megan Kate Nelson describes in this fascinating history。 After the Union troops successfully pushed the Confederates back into Texas， they began forcefully and systematically to remove the Natives from the territory。Nelson has written a well-researched and dramatic narrative history about a lesser known Civil War theater。 What makes this account all the more interesting is that she tells the larger story of the war through the lives of nine individuals who were swept up in the events that unfolded。 In addition to Baylor， these included among others: Kit Carson， the famed frontiersman; James Carleton， organizer of the “Indian wars” and champion of the failed Bosque Redondo Reservation; Apache chief and resister， Mangas Coloradas; and my favorite， Alonzo Ickis， a young Iowan farmer turned gold miner who joined the Union Army and kept a colorful journal of his experiences。 As always， I could have used more maps。 。。。more

James Bechtel ，

Megan Kate Nelson's "Three-Cornered War" is an appropriate description of the Civil War in the New Mexico Territory - present-day New Mexico and Arizona。 The Union and the Confederacy were concerned to control the gold and other resources of the West and especially California。 Soon， the implementation of a southern transcontinental railroad could begin - a major thoroughfare between Los Angeles and New Orleans。 Keep in mind the Gadsden Purchase from Mexico in 1854 added territory more favorable Megan Kate Nelson's "Three-Cornered War" is an appropriate description of the Civil War in the New Mexico Territory - present-day New Mexico and Arizona。 The Union and the Confederacy were concerned to control the gold and other resources of the West and especially California。 Soon， the implementation of a southern transcontinental railroad could begin - a major thoroughfare between Los Angeles and New Orleans。 Keep in mind the Gadsden Purchase from Mexico in 1854 added territory more favorable to a southern route。 Both sides had significant strategic interests here。 And so did the Indigenous peoples - the Apache and Navajo。 Hence， a three-cornered war。 Ms。 Nelson's use of the diaries， letters， experiences of about nine participants （Union， Confederate， and Indigenous） in the struggle makes for very interesting reading。 Slavery in the Territory played a key role。 Confederates supported the expansion of the institution of slavery - including Indigenous slavery。 The Union？ During Reconstruction， it "was unclear what it would take to abolish Indian slavery in New Mexico once and for all。。。。 The Republicans clearly did not see Indian slavery as the same sort of immoral system as African-American enslavement。 They took the same stance they had since 1863， fighting simultaneously for black emancipation and indigenous incarceration。 Both practices served their ultimate goal， to take possession of the lands of the entire continent， and give them over to free laborers。" （p。 229）。 I am taking "incarceration" for "reservations。" This chapter examines the negotiations between Navajo leaders and General WT Sherman over whether the Navajo will live at Bosque Redondo reservation （more of a wartime concentration camp） or their original homeland of Dine Bikeyah。 The agreed-upon decision is their homeland。 However， a few pages later in the Epilogue， she makes a different conclusion。 "These struggles for power in the West exposed a hard and complicated truth about the Union government's war aims: that they simultaneously embraced slave emancipation and Native extermination in order to secure an American empire of liberty。" （p。 252）。 Incarceration or extermination？ 。。。more

Mike ，

This is a very readable history of the Southwest during and immediately following the Civil War。 I have read a few other histories of these events。 All of them deal with the North vs the South or the Union Army vs the Apache or Navaho。 This books does both。 Normally I find such books overreach。 I was impressed that Ms。 Nelson put everything into a single book and show the historical perspective of the time。 The detail in the book is sufficient for the type and length of the book， but if you want This is a very readable history of the Southwest during and immediately following the Civil War。 I have read a few other histories of these events。 All of them deal with the North vs the South or the Union Army vs the Apache or Navaho。 This books does both。 Normally I find such books overreach。 I was impressed that Ms。 Nelson put everything into a single book and show the historical perspective of the time。 The detail in the book is sufficient for the type and length of the book， but if you want to get in depth detail you should read this first for perspective， and the other works later。 The thing that I appreciated the most is the lack of victimization and honest historical accounting of facts。 Confederates， Union soldiers， and Native Americans are portrayed realistically。 None of the major players are portrayed as total villains or total saints。 They are portrayed as people with good points and with flaws。 There is a significant attempt to show the reason people made decisions， whether flawed or not。 I find this to be a breath of fresh air。 。。。more

Joseph ，

The author takes a detail-oriented look at the Civil War in the far West。 I found this book to be captivating。 The narrative was brisk and flowed very smoothly without seeming forced or pedantic。 I learned several things from this book-always a plus in any endeavor， but especially in summer reading when the TBR stacks start looking ominous and foreboding。 Overall， a very meritorious effort and one of the better books I've read so far this year。 The author takes a detail-oriented look at the Civil War in the far West。 I found this book to be captivating。 The narrative was brisk and flowed very smoothly without seeming forced or pedantic。 I learned several things from this book-always a plus in any endeavor， but especially in summer reading when the TBR stacks start looking ominous and foreboding。 Overall， a very meritorious effort and one of the better books I've read so far this year。 。。。more

Alex ，

The Three Cornered War was an easy and interesting listen/read， where the author Megan Kate Nelson， illustrated the US Civil War in the Arizona and New Mexico territories by focusing on key figures of the the conflict。 I thought her approach was thoughtful， illuminating and useful for one to understand the region during this period。 However， I also felt the book lacked a certain historical depth that could have made understanding the topic better。 It was not until the conclusion that the author The Three Cornered War was an easy and interesting listen/read， where the author Megan Kate Nelson， illustrated the US Civil War in the Arizona and New Mexico territories by focusing on key figures of the the conflict。 I thought her approach was thoughtful， illuminating and useful for one to understand the region during this period。 However， I also felt the book lacked a certain historical depth that could have made understanding the topic better。 It was not until the conclusion that the author really laid out the raison d’etre of the book and thus， the story sometimes plodded along in an unclear manner。 If you liked this， I would also highly recommend Blood and Thunder by Hampton Sides， which focuses on Kit Carson and the Navajo nation in this period。 。。。more

Michelle I。 ，

I don't really love military history， but this account of the Civil War years in New Mexico and Arizona is required reading for anyone who's interested in the history of the Southwest or in Native American history。 Part of the book is about Civil War battles （and military buffs will get all the details of those campaigns）， and this part was pretty boring to me but my husband who's into that enjoyed it。 But the rest of the book centers on the treatment of Navajo and Apache people。 Very sad histor I don't really love military history， but this account of the Civil War years in New Mexico and Arizona is required reading for anyone who's interested in the history of the Southwest or in Native American history。 Part of the book is about Civil War battles （and military buffs will get all the details of those campaigns）， and this part was pretty boring to me but my husband who's into that enjoyed it。 But the rest of the book centers on the treatment of Navajo and Apache people。 Very sad history， but well told。 I especially appreciated the effort to bring in women's stories and the perspectives of lowly soldiers and other individuals。 It is obvious that this author took a deep dive into the archives to write a new kind of Civil War history。 Listened to the audiobook on a long drive toward the Southwest， and it is a pretty good narration。 。。。more

Peg Albrets ，

really interesting book about the Civil War in the west。。。I had no idea。

Dave N ，

I have a thing for histories that focus on individuals as a way to explain the intricacies of the past， and this book scratches the itch as well as anything else I've read for a while。 This book also served a second purpose in providing some context around the events of Cormac McCarthy's Blood Meridian， which is what drew me to it in the first place。 However， I came to appreciate the book for more than just background information; I came to realize that the story of the Civil War in the West was I have a thing for histories that focus on individuals as a way to explain the intricacies of the past， and this book scratches the itch as well as anything else I've read for a while。 This book also served a second purpose in providing some context around the events of Cormac McCarthy's Blood Meridian， which is what drew me to it in the first place。 However， I came to appreciate the book for more than just background information; I came to realize that the story of the Civil War in the West was an important aspect that， up until then， I hadn't known much about， despite having read a decent amount on the War （for a layperson， anyway）。 What was interesting is that these stories， which took place in Texas， Arizona and New Mexico， for the most part， seemed to mimic a lot of the stories I remember reading about Civil War battles and movements back East， and that the inclusion of the Native Americans' perspectives is what stood out most。 。。。more

Stephanie Storey ，

LOVED this new perspective on the Civil War; seeing it as the west was impacted and impacted the rest of the war was fascinating and has forever changed my view of American history。 Plus， I just enjoyed the storytelling and the writing！ Already on my "to re-read" list :） LOVED this new perspective on the Civil War; seeing it as the west was impacted and impacted the rest of the war was fascinating and has forever changed my view of American history。 Plus， I just enjoyed the storytelling and the writing！ Already on my "to re-read" list :） 。。。more

Ray Ortensie ，

One word: AWESOME！