num_pages: 336
description: First published in 1958 Red River Campaign examines how partisan politics economic needs and personal profit determined military policy and operations in Louisiana and Arkansas during the spring of 1864. In response to the demands of Free-Soil interests in Texas and the New England textiles manufacturers need for cotton Lincoln authorized an expedition to open the way to Texas. General Nathaniel Banks conducted a combined military and naval campaign up the Red River that lasted only from March 12 to May 20 1864 but was one of the most destructive of the Civil War. It is an ugly tale and except piecemealin diaries memoirs and chapters in other bookshas not been fully told. Ludwell H. Johnsons book is thorough scholarly and moving. He goes into the complex of reasons beginning with the annexation of Texas that impelled men to employ shady means top attain decent ends. He goes into the Washington phase of the matter especially Mr. Lincolns part in it something until now unrevealed. . . . Johnson describes the fighting dollying his camera nicely for close shots when he wants them giving dreadful pictures of war.James M. Cain New York Times Book Review At a time when so much repetitious material is being produced on the Civil War era it is refreshing to read a monograph characterized by as much originality as this one. The book is well documented and thoroughly doneand the title is well chosen since the narrative represents a careful intertwining of the play of military factors cotton and politics.H. H. Simms American Academy of Political &amp; Social Science Annals
language: English
title: Red River Campaign: Politics and Cotton in the Civil War
publisher: Kent State University Press