The Civil War in Arkansas

Books and Reviews

The Widow of the South

Wild Rose - Civil War Spy

Battle of Shiloh

McClellan's War

(Photo courtesy of
the Department of Arkansas Heritage

Books on Arkansas's Role in the War Between the States
The purpose of the Arkansas Civil War Reading List is to provide the beginning reader with a short guide to good introductory books on the war as it affected our state. It lists a number of books, several of them with multiple volumes, as well as an 11 hour video documentary. The list is divided into various topic areas, each listing between three and eight books, which do not require a lot of prior knowledge about the war and which provide a good introduction for further reading on the subject.

The Arkansas History Commission and State Archives
The most extensive collection of historical data is contained in the official archives for the state of Arkansas. Part of their mission is to encourage historical work and research. Although, it would be impossible to make all of the material available on-line, selected material as well as forms for ordering information is available. Watch as more information comes on line from the Commission.

University of Arkansas - Civil War Collection
"Manuscript Resources for the Civil War" was compiled in 1990 by Kim Allen Scott. We have mounted the entire guide on our web site; it contains brief descriptions of more than 200 collections. In addition, we have the finding aids to many manuscript collections mounted on line, with a subject-heading for Civil War, that includes collections processed since the publication of the guide ten years ago.

The Civil War Trust's Official Guide to the Civil War Discovery Trail.
Trust promotes the Discovery Trail nationally to the media and through the publication Civil War Sites: The Official Guide to Battlefields, Monuments, and More, published by Globe Pequot Press. More than 30,000 copies of the Guide have been sold. The Guide and its predecessors have been featured in USA Today, The Washington Post, Historic Traveler, Southern Living, and many other publications. The Guide provides brief descriptions of individual sites, together with driving directions, maps, and other visitor information.

With 300 pages of text and photographs, the Guide is an indispensable resource. CWPT also uses its website and magazine, Hallowed Ground, to promote the Trail. There is no fee to participate in the Civil War Preservation Trust’s Civil War Discovery Trial. Designation to the Discovery Trail is an honor that distinguishes and authenticates your site. Sites selected for the trail must offer a quality educational experience that interprets Civil War history.

Sites must have regular hours and be open seasonally or year-round for visitors. As well, sites should have professional interpretation, events, and activities. The CWPT offers technical assistance to sites that do not meet these criteria. Participants on the Trail receive use of our Trail logo, marketing and technical assistance, from the Civil War Preservation Trust and, in return, agree to promote their affiliation with the Discovery Trail.

We encourage discounts to CWPT members by Trail participants. Selection of Discovery Trail sites is made by the Civil War Preservation Trust, typically in conjunction with our coordinators in your state historic preservation office and state tourism agency. To nominate your site for consideration, please return the enclosed form with a brochure and/or other materials that document your Civil War-related exhibits, interpretive programs, events and activities. For more information, please visit the Civil War Preservation Trust's website iat www.cvilwar.org.

Other Books and Resources:

List of Civil War Books - Arkansas Civil War Bibliography

University of Arkansas Press Book Listing