Caught in the Maelstrom

"A detailed and well researched battle history of the Civil War in Indian Territory." ~The Civil War Monitor

"This book helped fill a gap in my own knowledge of the Civil War and it will undoubtedly do the same for other readers." ~Midwest Book Review

"[The author's] reinterpretation of several key battles—such as Cherokee involvement at Pea Ridge—constitutes welcome additions to historical understanding of the choices Native Americans made during this tumultuous period." ~Choice

"The narrative thread of the work holds together, the actors are vivid, and it highlights just how important the Native Nations were in the plans of both the Confederacy and the Union." ~On Point: The Journal of Army History

“Clint Crowe joins the ranks of scholars who are bringing the conflict west of the Mississippi to the forefront of Civil War scholarship. His fine study of the war in the Indian Territory emphasizes continuity between inter-tribal divisions over removal from the East and decisions to support either the North or South. Crowe demonstrates how Native American secret societies, spawned by these divisions, shaped the course of the war, provides a full narrative of military operations and chronicles the tribulations of a people caught up in a larger struggle not of their making, who nevertheless proportionately suffered more than any other group in the Civil War. This is entertaining reading on an important topic.” ~William Garrett Piston, co-author of Wilson’s Creek: The Second Battle of the Civil War and the Men Who Fought It

“This is an excellent study of the intense conflict among Indian tribes and resulting military actions by Confederate and Union armies during the Civil War in Indian Territory. It is an important and complex story presented, explained, and analyzed with remarkable precision by Clint Crowe. Anyone seeking a true understanding of the war in the trans-Mississippi West must pay close attention to this book.” ~T. Michael Parrish, Baylor University

"Accessible to a wide audience with thorough military coverage." ~Civil War Books and Authors

"This book is a fascinating account of a neglected aspect of the war. It is incredibly detailed and well-documented. . . . It is worth the effort for those who want to better understand the Civil War in general, as well as better understand the history of these tribes during this time." ~San Francisco Book Review