If you’re a Civil War buff like me, you probably already know that the war itself in Arkansas is largely overlooked in the conflict’s historiography. The Trans-Mississippi Theater is usually overshadowed by what was going on in the east, and even within that realm, Missouri has always gotten far more attention than Arkansas. In this book, Arkansas historian and Searcy County native James J. Johnston covers a facet of Ozarks Arkansas Civil War history that’s typically ignored even more than the state already is–Arkansas Unionists and the Peace Societies they established. I’ve been meaning to read this book since it was first released in 2019. Thanks so much to Julie for ordering it and adding it to our Arkansas collection!
Johnston is an excellent writer and researcher, and he relies heavily on primary sources to tell this story. The downside, as he readily admits, is that there are relatively few documents about the Unionists in Arkansas and even fewer by them because their Peace Societies were an illegal means of resisting the Confederate government. Still, Johnston is able to construct a cohesive and compelling chronicle of their history.
This book is a dense and niche look at Arkansas history, so it wouldn’t necessarily be a great introduction to the topic. But if you already know the basics, it’s a great deep dive that covers the overall context of internal opposition to the Confederacy and how it often was strongest in rural mountain areas throughout the South, how Unionist support in Arkansas centered on the Ozarks–including right here in Carroll County; the early efforts to oppose secession in the state legislature; the formation of defensive peace societies throughout the mountains of Arkansas; and the gradual uncovering of the peace societies by Confederate authorities.
The book also delves into the infamous forced march of dozens of arrested Unionists from the Ozarks to Little Rock, where they were required to either stand trial or enlist in Confederate regiments. From there, it shifts to the tactics that Unionists used once the Peace Societies were broken up, including fleeing the area, forming guerilla groups, hiding in the woods, and engaging in sabotage efforts from within the Confederate army. Though the focus is largely on the Ozarks, Johnston also shifts attention toward the end to cover a smaller but still vigorous Unionist movement in the Oauchitas.
Johnston has a heavy focus on Searcy County and its immediate surroundings, but Carroll County–particularly Carrollton–has its fair share of appearances. The appendices in the back are also helpful for genealogists researching Arkansas Unionist ancestors. They include lists of documented Peace Society members and the names of some of those arrested for their involvement and sent south to Little Rock, as well as the muster rolls of 2 Confederate companies largely recruited from those arrested Unionists as a means to avoid prison time.
Highly recommend this book for anyone with an interest in the Civil War, Arkansas history, or Arkansas genealogy.
Have you read Mountain Feds? Are you interested in Arkansas history? What’s your favorite book about Arkansas in the Civil War? Tell us in the comments! As always, please follow this link to our online library catalog for more information on any of these items or to place them on hold.
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