Quantrill's Thieves

Rating:
Summary: Interesting and Useful
Review: For all the civil war and partisan ranger buffs especially, this book is interesting. It offers useful new information and a completely different angle on Quantrill's Raiders. The title comes from a document, lifted from one of Quantrill's band, that amounted to a roster. When copied by Union soldiers, one titled the roster Quantrill's Thieves. Quantrill was a fascinating individual and an adept leader. The author's effort here is to provide some color and description about his followers not found in other accounts. He draws on local records, some genealogy and other data to flesh out the members of Quantrill's band listed on the roster. In some cases he makes an educated guess about the individual but in most it appears he has identified the person. Why were they drawn to Quantrill more than other partisan leaders? Why did they follow and trust him implicitly? Who were the faces behind some of the daring raids? Who were the men behind atrocities like the Lawrence Massacre? If you have been reading about Quantrill, you should read this book.

Rating:
Summary: Great Book. Much Detail.
Review: This is a great book with loads of detail. It explains the background and history leading up to some of the bloodiest guerilla raids of the civil war. It explains how various actions of Congress and government officials can lead to the Rule of Unintended Consequences. From the Raiders we get Jesse James, the Daltons, etc. There were decades of actions all which find there genesis in the civil war era raids detailed in this book.
The author sets the stage for the reader in a very straightforward matter. There are biographies of all the riders. Also the location of the beginning of the raid on Lawrence Kansas is revealed.
All civil war buffs should have this book in their collection.

Rating:
Summary: Great Book. Much Detail.
Review: This is a great book with loads of detail. It explains the background and history leading up to some of the bloodiest guerilla raids of the civil war. It explains how various actions of Congress and government officials can lead to the Rule of Unintended Consequences. From the Raiders we get Jesse James, the Daltons, etc. There were decades of actions all which find there genesis in the civil war era raids detailed in this book.
The author sets the stage for the reader in a very straightforward matter. There are biographies of all the riders. Also the location of the beginning of the raid on Lawrence Kansas is revealed.
All civil war buffs should have this book in their collection.