Stephen Z. Starr

Nowhere was the American Civil War more brutal than along the Missouri Kansas border. Citizens of these two states had been burning, pillaging and murdering each other for years before 1861. Their mutual hatred was deep and personal.

Jennison’s Jayhawkers tells the story of Charles Jennison and the Seventh Kansas Calvary. Jennison was a scoundrel and opportunist who saw the war as a chance to wreak vengeance on Missourians and to enhance his personal wealth with the proceeds of their looted show more property. Under Jennison, the Seventh’s reputation was so despicable that the Federal Command sought to move them as far as possible away from the Missouri border. Later, under more competent and reputable leaders, the Seventh Kansas redeemed itself as a disciplined, effective and sought after fighting force. Not so, Jennison. He continued to profit from horses and other property stolen from Missouri and was eventually dishonorably discharged from his service because of atrocities committed in Arkansas and Missouri by the Fifteenth Kansas while it was under his command.

Jennison’s Jayhawkers may be for the hard core Civil War buff. It is very detailed, drawing on a lot of original material. But it is not a difficult read and offers fascinating picture of the border wars and of daily life in a cavalry regiment. show less

This is Volume one of a military history of the Federal Mounted Arm. It was a service that was suffering from the resignation of some of its best peacetime officers as they had gone south to the CSA. So it was starting from scratch. this Volume takes us up to Gettysburg in the East, and shows that it took a considerable time for the USA to rebuild its mounted forces. But they were showing considerable promise as evidenced by such actions as Grierson's Raid in the spring of 1863. It is well show more worth reading. show less

Not a bad book, a bit academic with all the unit and troop movements with limited battle commentary. Hard to read consequently, but enough to keep me reading till I finished. This is Vol #1, won't read #2&3 because they are too time consuming.

I found the book hard to follow because the author jumped from one corps to another without clearly identifying the corps. The author should have spent more print on bio information on each of the cavalry commanders. The authors style didn't give me the feeling of being drawn into the action.