Excellent campaign and battle study of the obscure battle of Carthage, Missouri, in July 1861. Very good maps allow you to follow the complex course of this running fight between the Missouri State Guard and the outnumbered, but well-trained German Federals (Savas is a small publisher that "gets it" where maps and military history are concerned). Sigel marched his outnumbered troops way out on a proverbial limb into southwest Missouri - his escape was due to luck, Rebel errors, and to the excellent fighting qualities of his soldiers, especially his artillerymen. Good also on the complicated pro-Union and pro-secession politics of Missouri. Some useful photos of the battlefield today. A driving tour is included in an appendix.