OHP BOOK REVIEW: SHIP ISLAND, MISSISSIPPI BY THERESA ARNOLD-SCRIBER AND TERRY SCRIBER

Non-fiction, pjotos, maps, bibliography, notes, index, 479 pp., 2008. McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers, Box 611, Jefferson, North Carolina 28640, $75 plus shipping.

From its discovery, Ship Island has been intricately involved in the history of the United States. Ship Island, Mississippi: Roster and History of the Civil War Prison relates the saga from 1699 when the French explorer OPierre Lemoyne d’Iberville used the island as a base of operation to its current tourist status.

Probably the most sinister history pertaining to Ship Island is when it was used by the Union as a prisoner of war camp. It is interesting that the South abandoned this island thinking that New Orleans was sufficiently defended with Fort Jackson and Fort St. Phillip at the mouth of the Mississippi. This golden opportunity was realized by the North, and the island was seized to first be used as a base of operations in the Gulf. Once the objectives of New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Natchez were achieved, Ship Island was converted into what many inmates called “hell in the Gulf.” Maj. Gen. “Beast” Butler was the first to send prisoners to Ship Island. A note worthy point is that these prisoners were citizens of New Orleans, not soldiers. Later Confederate soldiers would be subjected also to the harsh environment of the small island. “A combination of blistering sun, a lack of fresh water, and rampant disease all contributed to sending the death rates of the prisoners to frightening levels,” states Mrs. Arnold-Scriber in the Introduction of this publication. The graves of these individuals have been claimed by the Gulf of Mexico long ago, but their name is remembered in the pages of this book.

Included in Ship Island, Mississippi is not only the well chronicled history, but the rosters of the men imprisoned there. “Organized first by the state in which the soldier enlisted and then by the company in which he served, entries are listed in alphabetically by last name and include information such as beginning rank; date and place of enlistment; date and place of capture; physical characteristics; and where possible, the fate and postwar occupation of the prisoner.” In addition to this, there is a roster with the citizens who were imprisoned at Ship Island.

As with previous books, the Scribers have done a superb job in researching and compiling crucial information. The meticulous history is worthy of any history book, yet the rosters provide invaluable sources for individuals to explore their family history. Detailed maps allow the reader to visualize the information being given, while photos give a glimpse at people and places. Overall, Ship Island, Mississippi is a creditable publication to be a part of any War Between the States collection.

Written by: Cassie A. Barrow

OHP BOOK REVIEW: THE FOURTH LOUISIANA BATTALION IN THE CIVIL WAR, A HISTORY AND ROSTER BY TERRY & TERESA SCRIBER

Non-fiction, illustrated, maps, notes, bibliography, index, 371 pp., 2008. McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers, Box 611, Jefferson, North Carolina 28640, $55 plus shipping.

For genealogists, ancestors become more than a name on a family tree, but an individual who lived with ideas and dreams, someone who helped to create the individual researching his/ her past. To find a book that describes what your Confederate ancestor endured while serving for his country is always exhilarating. The Fourth Louisiana Battalion in the Civil War, a History and Roster is one such book that can give a glimpse into the activity of this particular battalion from Louisiana’s secession to the final surrender at Gainesville, Alabama. Yet, the account does not just chronicle the movements of the 4th Louisiana Battalion, but this book goes into great detail to record all of the activities during the battle.
The authors utilize primary sources whenever possible to help narrate the saga. Letters, journals, newspaper articles, and other correspondence are used tirelessly. This section of the manuscript offers the reader an easy but informative examination of what took place before, during and after the battle. The siege at Vicksburg, the Battle of Chickamauga, the Atlanta Campaign, and other significant battles are explored within the history section.

At the conclusion of each chapter, an “Order of Battle” is listed. In a quick glance, the reader can ascertain who was in charge of the Union and Confederate forces, and what corps, brigade or division was involved. Maps and pictures are also utilized to help the reader to visualize the actual movement of a certain battle, or its devastation to an area. Many tools are employed to simplify the complexity of the unfolding battle.

The second section of the book is a biographical register including commanding officers, staff, color bearers, and soldiers who served the battalion. “The biographical register for the citizen soldiers of the Fourth Louisiana Battalion Infantry has been designed to provide an accurate record of each soldiers’ Confederate military service, pensions and land warrant applications, veterans’ census, civilian life, spouses, children, and death and burial information. The information on some of the men is far from complete.”

The Fourth Louisiana Battalion in the Civil War is a worthy addition to those interested in the history of the men from Louisiana who served. This book is a must for all genealogy libraries and collections. It is an invaluable research tool for those in search of their ancestors’ legacy.

Review Written by: Cassie A. Barrow