Thunder Across the Swamp

"Don writes well and has done a tremendous amount of research in primary and secondary sources. This work fills a large void in the literature of the Civil War and describes events that either have not received adequate coverage in the past or have not appeared before in print." Arthur W. Bergeron, Jr., Ph.D.

"Thunder Across the Swamp displays outstanding narrative skills, superb scholarship, and contains a wide ranging use of previously unpublished primary sources from both Union and Confederate viewpoints. Anyone with a desire to know more about the much neglected portion of the Civil War in Louisiana west of the Mississippi River in early 1863 should read this book. It will be exceptionally valuable to scholars, as well as more casual readers of the War in the West." Gary D. Joiner, Ph.D.

"Thunder Across the Swamp: The Fight for the Lower Mississippi, February-May 1863 is a powerful story of an aspect of the Civil War that has until this time received little attention from scholars. This book is an original and significant contribution to understanding the strategic importance of the struggle for control of Louisiana near the confluence of the Red and Mississippi rivers. It fills a void in an otherwise neglected historical account, overshadowed at the time by the Union campaign against Vicksburg. Although the author is writing about little-known events that cover only a few months, he paints a picture of war on the river that is readable, human, and backed by detailed research. He tells a fascinating story with skill and grace; the elegance of the writing makes the events come alive and allow, what might be considered unimportant actions, seem vital. At a time when Ulysses S. Grant was moving against Vicksburg and Robert E. Lee was planning his invasion of Pennsylvania, it is understandable that these military actions drew little attention in comparison. What the author has done is to breathe life into the war on the Mississippi below Vicksburg." Anne J. Bailey, Ph.D.

"Thunder Across the Swamp displays outstanding narrative skills, superb scholarship, and contains a wide ranging use of previously unpublished primary sources from both Union and Confederate viewpoints. Anyone with a desire to know more about the much neglected portion of the Civil War in Louisiana west of the Mississippi River in early 1863 should read this book. It will be exceptionally valuable to scholars as well as more casual readers of the War in the West." —Gary D. Joiner, Ph.D.

"Don writes well and has done a tremendous amount of research in primary and secondary sources. This work fills a large void in the literature of the Civil War and describes events that either have not received adequate coverage in the past or have not appeared before in print." —Arthur W. Bergeron

"This second volume of Donald Frazier's 'Louisiana Quadrille' series establishes him as the premier chronicler of the war in the bayous, bottomlands, and sawgrass prairies between the Sabine and Mississippi rivers." —Gordon Berg

"...a very impressive campaign study which is presented in a lively, narrative style, accompanied by an array of well executed tactical maps along with some outstanding photographs of the principal actors in the 1863 drama. Without questions, [Frazier] moved the war in Louisiana 'the back alley' to the front burner." —David Ward, Edsel Ford Library

"This book is a must for the dedicated Civil War buff." —Mary Beth Jones, The Facts, Brazos Living Book Beat