Being there . . . . for two ways to be a real Santa Claus by giving A+ American history book gifts,
one dealing with the Great Sioux Campaign of 1876, the other the Civil War Battle at Kennesaw
Mountain in NW Georgia, near Atlanta in 1864. Published by McFarland & Company in 2018
under the title, “Movements and Positions in the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain – – The Memoir
of Colonel James T. Holmes, 52d Ohio Volunteer Infantry”, now published for the firsthand
details in considerable depth the action on Cheatham’s Hill during the June 1864 Battle for the
Kennesaw. Written in 1915, Holmes’ riveting, insightful narrative, with original hand-drawn
diagrams, differs on key points from the accepted scholarship on troop movements and
positions at Kennesaw, and contests the legitimacy of a battlefield monument.
In the equally enthralling, “The Great Sioux Campaign of 1876, Day-by-Day”, author Frederic
C. Wagner III, draws almost exclusively upon his impressive 22 years’ of dedicated research for
an exhaustive chronology of the Sioux Campaign in three parts. The U.S. Seventh Cavalry’s
communications, decisions and movements from October 15, 1875, thru JUNE 21, 1876, are
traced, day-by-day, including the three-day prelude to the Battle of Little Bighorn, hour-by-
hour, and the battle itself, minute-by-minute.
Read, one after the other, buffs realize each title is abundantly supported with a variety of
hard data. Within paragraphs, the Civil War reader is deafened with the sounds systematic
battles allowing for more sweeping generalizations. Both authors, James T. Holmes and Frederic
C. Wagner III are to be commended not only as resolutely dedicated historical researchers, but
also as gifted writer-wordsmiths who know how to mesmerize. The scenes they direct are
usually riddled with the calamitous.
ACCLAIM IS VIRTUALLY A CERTAINTY FOR TWO NEWLY McFARLAND PUBLISHED NARRATIVE
HISTORIES – ONE A CIVIL WAR COMBAT MEMOIR BY A LIEUTENANT COLONEL OF THE 52 nd OHIO
VOLUNTEERS; THE OTHER, AN EXHAUSTIVE CHRONOLOGY OF THE TRAGIC SIOUX CAMPAIGN
VIA THREE PARTS. EACH, UNIQUE AND BRILLIANT, IS A FULL, SWEEPING ACCOUNT TO BE READ,
REREAD, THEN REMEMBERED AS CLASSIC OF THEIR KIND FOR GENERATIONS. ARRIVING IN TIME
FOR YULETIDE GIFT-GIVING, EACH BY ITSELF WILL BE CHERISHED. GIVEN TOGETHER, THE TWO
ADD UP TO A SUPERB, NONPAREIL COMBINED SWEEPING SEGMENT OF AMERICAN HISTORY
LESS THAN 15 YEARS AND 150 MILES APART. . . .
Each reviewed and highly recommended together as a venturesome American History
Christmas Gift by Don DeNevi
“MOVEMENTS AND POSITIONS IN THE BATTLE OF KENNESAW MOUNTAIN – – The Memoir of
Colonel James T. Holmes, 52d Ohio Volunteer Infantry”, by James T. Holmes, edited by Garth D.
Bishop (great-grandson of Col. James Taylor Holmes), With an Introduction and Annotations by
Mark A. Smith. McFarland & Company, Inc. Publishers: 2018, republished in 2024, 155 pages, 6”
x 9”, photos, battle diagrams, maps, softcover, $29.95. Visit Web, www.mcfarlandpub.com.
“THE GREAT SIOUX CAMPAIGN OF 1876, Day-by-Day”, by Frederic C. Wagner III. McFarland &
Company, Inc. Publishers: 2022, 272 pages, 7” x 10”, maps, softcover, $39.95. Visit Web,
www.mcfarlandpub.com.
In short, “Movements and Positions In the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain – – The Memoir of
Colonel James T. Holmes, 52d Ohio Volunteer Infantry” is a powerful extensive introduction
with annotations by respected Mark A. Smith who provides a brief yet comprehensive overview
of the battle, placing Holmes’ documents in historical context.
Meanwhile, in the highly welcomed, “The Great Sioux Campaign of 1876, Day by Day”,
Frederic C. Wagner III separates the actions of his several military commands and the Indian
groups involved – – they are appropriately and efficiently narrated in coherent sequence.
Archival intelligence summaries offer the reader a fresh perspective on the events leading to
the decisive Indian victory popularly to as “Custer’s Last Stand”.
With such appealing subjects and titles to start crossing gift-recipient names off your list,
won’t you appreciate you began your gift wrapping early enough to enjoy the first three weeks
of December even better?
