Vicksburg

The Civil War Battle Series #5

by James Reasoner

Vicksburg  is the fifth volume in a series of historical novels spanning the Civil War featuring the Brannon family of Culpeper County, Virginia. The focus turns to the west and the Southern stronghold of Vicksburg, Mississippi, where Cory Brannon is working to keep the town supplied by wagon train and railroad from Texas. Vicksburg is the key to the Mississippi River and the future of the Confederacy, and Abraham Lincoln wants to put that key in his pocket. For almost a year the Federal army and navy have tried to dislodge the Confederates, but they have gained nothing. Finally, Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, the hero of the battles at Forts Henry and Donelson and the battle of Shiloh, is dispatched to take the town. Cory and the woman he loves, Lucille Farrell, are working with her uncle, Col. Charles Thompson, and a small contingent of dedicated Southerners. In the spring of 1863, as the Union army begins to close in, Cory must abandon that venture to take on a vital mission for Confederate Gen. John Pemberton, the commander in charge of Vicksburg's defenses. At the end of Cory's journey, however, is an even more dangerous foray into Western Tennessee and over the border into Kentucky with the horse soldiers of Nathan Bedford Forrest, Cory's mentor from the battle of Shiloh. To help save Vicksburg, Cory becomes both a cavalry raider and even a spy. Yet his efforts cannot prevent the inevitable as the Yankees eventually surround and lay siege to Vicksburg. With the Northern army set to seize the city, Lucille must also cope with additional challenges as she encounters a returning friend with secret plans of his own. The Federal bombardment, illness, injury, and starvation all take their toll on the defenders of Vicksburg, forcing Cory and Lucille to face decisions that threaten not only their love but their very lives.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Civil War, American Civil War, War, Historical, Military Fiction

399 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is more about Cory and Lucille. We also get to experience the days leading to and the days of the siege of Vicksburg.

The series continues to hold me. I am glad I came upon the series at the time that I did so I can read all of them and won't have to wait for the next to be published.

[Christopher Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a battle that many of the history books ignore. You read about the importance of the Gettysburg campaign, and all of the other eastern campaigns... but you never really find much about the struggles of the western campaigns. Usually, you hear/read about the Union army moving down the Mississippi River and up it thanks to Daniel Farragut. Then it seems to culminate with the actions in Vicksburg but you don't hear about the details that you find with the Gettysburg battles. The hunger and disease that was running through the city as it was under attack, and with everything else that goes on with a massive attack that puts a city under siege. Plus, Cory gets married. Something that I felt emotionally attached to and felt that I had been there myself.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the 5th book in the Civil War series and really do like the characters of Cory and Lucille. Vicksburg is one of the turning points in the Civil War and I thought that the author spent a little too much time on the love story between the two main characters and a not enough time on the actual siege of the city. The one part I truly enjoyed was the battles with an infamous confederate general, Nathan Bedford Forrest! The story has many historical points, but I was hoping for even more detail leading up to this Union victory.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This 5th book in the series focuses solely on Cory Brannon and his exploits before and during the siege of Vicksburg. The book led me to check out information about wagon trains and supply lines during the war--I ended up reading transcripts of journal entries from both enlisted soldiers and generals about the issues facing them as they worked hard to get food, gear, and weaponry to the armies.

[Levi Borba · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reasoner again delivers an amazing story. But, contrary to the other books in this serie so far, Vicksburg has a quite unecessary side-story between Lucille and Palmer Kincaid. The last 2 chapters are the conclusion of this sub-plot that honestly, was very unneeded. The book would be better without it.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good installment in book five of this ten book series. This one was focused on one of the characters Cory and his helping with defending Vicksburg though he was not actually in the army. He was with General Nathan Bedford Forrest and describes in good detail the horrors of war.

[Mary Ellen Woods · Rating 3 out of 5]

This entire series is a 3.5 so I'm alternating between a 3 and 4.

[Mary Patterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Learning more about the everday conditions during the Civil War than any history book ever had. It may not all the true but neither was Scarlett O"hara.

[Brian Guthrie · Rating 1 out of 5]

The author is indulgent in this book subjecting one of the female leads to an unnecessarily terrifying ordeal that did not serve the narrative at all. Low point in series.

[Lloyd Hinkle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author presents how the events of the Civil War effect a family in Virginia. This approach to the history of the Civil War gives it more meaning

[Linda Munro · Rating 4 out of 5]

The ficticious Cory Brennon is sent as a civilian curriour as a means of securing aid for Vicksburg defenses. After his mission is accomplished he acts as a spy, securing much needed percussion caps for the Confederacy, after which he accompanies Gen. Nathan Bedford Forest on a mission to destroy RR tracks which would otherwise allow the Yankees easier access to Vicksburg. This delay keeps Cory from his Christmas Eve wedding date. Finally returning to Vicksburg, Cory, torn between his love for Lucille and the safety of their home, accompanies Lucille's Uncle, Col. Charles Thompson on yet another mission to halt the inevitable. As Vicksburg finally falls, Cory and Lucille are wed in the shelter beneath her uncle's home.... the Brennon family saga in the Civil War continunes...

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another excellent edition in the Civil War series. In this episode we spend most of our time down South with Cory as he fights the Yankees and tries to finally tie the knot with Lucille. I didn't really care for Cory when he was first introduced but he has grown into a good, strong character. Looking forward to book 6, Gettysburg and back to Mac and Will. What about Titus? And can we please learn a little more about Cordelia?

[James Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn't a literary masterpiece and the author's characters seemed very one dimensional and unrealistic but the story held my attention and the author did succeed in making me care about Cory and Lucille.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally, the story came back to Cory B, and it takes up the entire book. Another enjoyable 'listen' from the series.

[Hank Pharis · Rating 2 out of 5]

See other reviews of this series

[Eric · Rating 2 out of 5]

An almost juvenile treatment of personalities surrounding Vicksburg up to and at the time of its fall to Grant in 1863.