M. Jeff Thompson: Missouri's Swamp Fox of the Confederacy (Missouri Heritage Readers)

by Doris Land Mueller

In the treacherous swamps of southeast Missouri, a different kind of Civil War was waged. Meriwether Jeff Thompson was one of the most intriguing but least-known Missouri participants in the Civil War. He and his troops traveled fast and light to harass Union forces, materializing out of the countryside to surprise the enemy and evading the traps set for them by Northern commanders. Early in the war, Union General Ulysses S. Grant gave Thompson the name “Swamp Fox” for his exploits in the Bootheel region. This book now tells his story—an adventure that will be appreciated by readers of all ages. Doris Mueller has produced a meticulously researched account of Thompson’s life, from his Virginia boyhood and early successes to his wartime exploits and postwar life. When the war began, Thompson left his adopted city of St. Joseph—where he had served as mayor—to fight for the Confederacy. He was elected brigadier general in the First Military District of Southeast Missouri and led poorly equipped and loosely trained men in skirmishes and raids, often using guerrilla tactics. He was captured in August 1863. After being released twelve months later in a prisoner exchange, he joined Sterling Price’s ill-fated raid into Missouri. After the war, he was one of the first Southern leaders to seek reinstatement as a U.S. citizen and worked to allay hostilities among fellow Southerners. Thompson was also known as the “Poet Laureate of the Marshes,” and Mueller includes numerous excerpts from his writings about his experiences. Her account not only provides a wealth of little-known biographical details about this important Missourian but also offers insight into the state’s unique experiences during that bloody era, personalizing events through the life of this brave soldier. Scorned by the Northern press for impudence, but beloved as a leader by his men, Thompson was courageous in battle, often to the point of recklessness, making him a constant thorn in the side of Union forces; after the war he was an oft-maligned model for reconciliation. Doris Mueller’s recounting of his life is an action-adventure story that will delight readers as it attests to his important role in Missouri’s heritage.

136 pages, Paperback

First published February 28, 2007

Reviews

[Scott D · Rating 3 out of 5]

Terse and informative.

[Doug DePew · Rating 4 out of 5]

"M. Jeff Thompson: MIssouri's Swamp Fox of the Confederacy" is a very rare glimpse into the life of a Missouri Confederate officer in the Civil War. He operated in southeast Missouri which is often ignored in discussions of the western theater of the war or the war in Missouri. It was a particularly brutal brand of warfare in that part of the country. The book follows his life from beginning to end and even includes some of his poetry.

It is a fairly quick read and is well written although sometimes a bit academic. It details his exploits throughout the war all the way to his post-war exploits. It's a very well researched and documented account of one of the more intriguing member of the Trans-Mississippi Brigade. I recommend it to anyone who's interested in the war in Missouri. Missouri was the third most fought over state in the war, and many people don't even realize it was involved. This book gives you a glimpse of it.

[Katie O’Reilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaging local history. I was mostly transfixed by this story of Jeff Thompson, a Confederate fighter whose knowledge of the local Missouri terrain was a thorn in the side of the Union forces. Thompson was never a slaveowner but he hated the North. He passionately wanted a Confederate generalship but due to being a cocky lunatic, he never got it. One downside: not enough Swamp Fox-y anecdotes. The story of Missouri during the Civil War is such a sad one. They suffered incredible privations and tragedy from both sides. Too much war :(.