With Fire and Sword: Arkansas, 1861-1874

by Thomas A. Deblack

When Arkansas seceded from the Union in 1861, it was a thriving state. But the Civil War and Reconstruction left it reeling, impoverished, and so deeply divided that it never regained the level of prosperity it had previously enjoyed. Although most of the major battles of the war occurred elsewhere, Arkansas was critical to the Confederate war effort in the vast Trans-Mississippi region, and Arkansas soldiers served—some for the Union and more for the Confederacy—in every major theater of the war. And the war within the state was devastating. Union troops occupied various areas, citizens suffered greatly from the war’s economic disruption, and guerilla conflict and factional tensions left a bitter legacy. Reconstruction was in many ways a continuation of the war as the prewar elite fought to regain economic and political power.

In this, the fourth volume in the Histories of Arkansas series, Thomas DeBlack not only describes the major players and events in this dramatic and painful story, but also explores the experiences of ordinary people. Although the historical evidence is complex—and much of the secondary literature is extraordinarily partisan—DeBlack offers a balanced, vivid overview of the state’s most tumultuous period.

Genres: Civil War, History

256 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2003

Reviews

[Eli H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very readable history of the Civil War and Reconstruction era, in Arkansas. Dr. Tom DeBlack provides a thoroughly researched overview of the time period. I feel as if most people pick up this book for the civil war period, but the reconstruction subject matter in this book is just as good. I recommend this book for anybody who is interested in Arkansas history, the civil war, and reconstruction.

[Sean McLachlan · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I was researching my book Ride Around Missouri, Shelbys Great Raid 1863, this title served as background reading.

With Fire and Sword: Arkansas 1861-1874 by Thomas A. DeBlack is a detailed account of the period from just before the war to the end of Reconstruction as is second in a four-part series covering the history of Arkansas.

It's nice to see a volume that covers both the war and Reconstruction. DeBlack convincingly argues that they're essentially two phases of the same event. The focus is more on political and social history than a detailed discussion of military strategy (which has been done at length elsewhere) and DeBlack skillfully interweaves primary sources and academic studies to give a clear picture of how Arkansas and Arkansans changed during this tumultuous period. A long annotated bibliography rounds out the work, adding a valuable resource.

I do have a couple of reservations. The book could have used a stricter editorial hand to clear away some overly academic writing, one howler (Missourians will be interested to know that Lexington is west of Kansas City), and a glossing over of some important details. The reduction of Sterling Price's army after the Battle of Lexington, for example, was not so much due to desertion as it was Price ordering many units to go home for lack of provisions.

Also, the book could do with a general map of the state and region. Many history books lack proper maps and I've never understood why some publishers feel the small amount of extra expense and work isn't necessary. I doubt most readers, including Arkansans, will know the locations of all the towns, villages, and rivers DeBlack mentions.

But these are minor quibbles. With Fire and Sword is an excellent overview of an important period in Arkansas history that affected the region as a whole. Highly recommended to students of the region and period.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

A history of the Civil War and Reconstruction in Arkansas. As a history of the Civil War, I found that it wasn't quite as good as Rugged and Sublime: The Civil War in Arkansas as the latter goes into a greater level of detail, but the addition of the period of Reconstruction makes up for that by showing how the events of the war led into those of the period after it.

The Reconstruction period in Arkansas has received even less coverage than the Civil War, so it's good to see it covered here. The book covers a number of important and interesting events that I suspect few are aware of, including a period of martial law and a contested gubernatorial election that led to the raising of troops and some fighting before the intervention of the President.

The weakest part of the book is its lack of citations in the text, but a bibliography at the end partly makes up for that lack.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very good book and gives great detail about Arkansas during the Civil War and battles that took place in the state and how important it was to the Confederacy.