The South's Finest: The First Missouri Confederate Brigade from Pea Ridge to Vicksburg
This 1993 non-fiction book chronologically details the experience of the 1st Missouri Brigade from 1862 until their surrender at Vicksburg in 1863. It covers their victories and defeats at Pea Ridge, Iuka, Corinth, Louisiana Expedition, Grand Gulf, Port Gibson, Champions Hill, Big Black River and Vicksburg. It gives an account in detail of the leaders of the brigade, the common soldiers and touches on the large role of the St. Louis residents in the brigade. This book gives us an in-depth look at the lives of soldiers whom most of history has forgotten. The South's Finest is a very detailed work that I enjoyed reading. It is well documented and is a very thorough, professional work using journals, newspapers, and the Missouri Historical Society. The works cited demonstrates a mastery of the subject; Phillip Thomas Tucker's extensive use of primary sources shows the authenticity of his conclusions. Tucker's background as an Air Force historian also lends to his reliability. The only draw back is, because of the professional nature of this book, the common reader may find pieces of the work a bit dry. Overall, this book can be read by amateurs and professionals alike and offers an in-depth look at the South's finest soldiers in Missouri. Taken from Amazon Customer Review
