Fort Donelson's Legacy: War and Society in Kentucky and Tennessee, 1862-1863

Benjamin Franklin Cooling has written one of the most in-depth books ever on the Civil War in Tennessee and Kentucky. This is part 2 of his trilogy (the first book focused mainly on Forts Henry and Donelson) and I'm eagerly looking forward to part 3. Using a vast wealth of eyewitness accounts, diary exerpts, letters, military dispatches, and official records, Cooling has possibly written the most complete book yet on the Civil War in Kentucky and Tennessee following the surrender of Fort Donelson. The author clearly believes that the fall of Fort Donelson spelled disaster for the entire Confederate defense of Tennessee, and he presents his case strongly. Anyone studying this theater of the war can see that the Army of Tennessee was severely handicapped by improper leadership (although the underated and cautious Joseph Johnston was at least loved by the troops). I still don't know why the Confederates gave up the strategically vital city of Nashville in 1862 without a fight. To me, that seems an even bigger blunder than the Confederate surrender of over 12,000 troops at Fort Donelson. This book has period illustrations and mostly excellent maps in each chapter, and you will be amazed by the amount of details crammed into each chapter. From the failed Southern invasion of Kentucky to the "uncivil" guerilla warfare in middle Tennessee that left the Union garrison at Nashville under "siege" (their supplies were cut off for a while because of the Confederate guerillas), this is a gripping tale and very important book that's highly recommended for any Civil War buffs.