At last, John Curry has a book in print worthy of his art. Ms. Junker has suceeded in paying a noble yet sadly overdue tribute to this unique and often neglected artist. Curry's paintings capture the emotion and natural force of American scenes in a way that was very much his own. Works like "Tornado over Kansas" and the scene of John Brown in "A Tragic Prelude" embody some of the greatest expressions of conflict to be found in American art.

This is a fine piece of old-school history: rich, objective, and thorough. The writing is excellent (though minor editing lapses are something of an annoyance). The style is smooth yet heavy on content and the total absence of politically correct psychobabble (see McPherson's Battle Cry of Freedom) is refreshing.

As with most Civil War narratives the story offers entertainment value in its own right. The collection of personalities includes inept Confederate generals, smarmy politicians and rugged country boys doing the soldiering. The unusual genesis of the Union army's river fleet is explored. Further, the battles followed a fascinating course unforeseen by either side. Fort Henry, for instance, was being abandoned by Confederate forces when it was attacked by Grant and his supporting gunboats. The resulting "defeat" at Henry was caused as much by floodwaters as by Union tactics.

Yet as the title suggests the real story here is how the battles for Henry and Donelson shaped the events that followed. Gott never releases this theme; indeed, it is woven into his exploration of the battle from the very first page to the last. Gott's perspective as a professional battle historian is reflected in his emphasis on thorough analysis. Again, satisfying. He doesn't miss much. This book is a compelling drama for a reader interested in something deeper than the standard casual treatment of our country's bloodiest war.

"For too long one of the Civil War's decisive campaigns has been ignored by historians. In Where the South Lost the War, Kendall Gott tells the story of the Fort Henry-Fort Donelson campaign, the operation that shattered the initial Confederate defense line in the west and enabled Union amphibious forces to thrust deep into the Southern heartland. Gott blends his experiences as a combat veteran with those of a military historian to provide a gripping narration of day-to-day operations. Particulalry relevant are his penetrating analyses of the leaders, their command decisions, and their strengths and weakensses. These elements combine to give the readers a masterful account of the campaign that served as a major milepost on "Unconditional Surrender" Grant's road to Appomattox Court House and the White House" Edwin C. Bearss, Historian Emertius, National Park Service.