A State Divided: The Civil War Letters of James Calaway Hale and Benjamin Petree of Andrew County, Missouri, 1862-1865

A State Divided: The Civil War Letters of James Calaway Hale and Benjamin Petree of Andrew County, Missouri, 1862-1865, presents fifty previously unpublished Civil War letters and explains the context in which these two Missouri soldiers – both ancestors of the author – found themselves living, both before and during the Civil War, as they watched discord, destruction, and bloodshed erupt all around them. The letters provide vivid details and unique perspectives into Hale and Petree's lives and experiences during the war as they march and drill with their regiments, avoid several close calls with guerrillas and enemy troops, witness the buildup to the Vicksburg Campaign, get an in-depth look at wartime St. Louis, overcome illness, trek with Sherman through the Carolinas, ponder the devastation they encounter, and celebrate victory in Washington, D.C. The book's added historical details and explanations highlight the important role played by Missouri – a state that saw 42% of the battles in the U.S. during the first year of the war; suffered more than 1000 engagements on its soil, many involving guerrilla warfare; and experienced one of the last surrenders – 47 days after Lee surrendered to Grant at Appomattox.