The UNcivil War: Irregular Warfare in the Upper South, 1861 – 1865
Robert R. Mackey
Oklahoma University Press, Hardcover, 2004

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Many people consider the American Civil War to be the last true romantic war where soldiers on both sides fought with gallantry and extended every courtesy to his opponent and the civilians caught up in the war. This was true in many instances, but like all wars, the American Civil War could be as brutish for the combatants as any modern conflict. One of the nastier aspects was the irregular war conducted by the Confederates States, and the responses by the Federal Government. The types of irregular warfare have always been misunderstood and often ignored in the analytical writings of the war. LTC (lieutenant colonel) Mackey not only applies a modern appreciation of the warfare he examines, but also places it in the proper historical context.

The author opens the book with an historical review of the theory and practices that were in use with irregular warfare at the time of the American Civil War. LTC Mackey notes that irregular warfare can be broken down into three types. The first and least organized, and one most open to sheer banditry, was guerilla warfare. Today guerilla warfare is most associated with national uprisings, but in this area that was a totally foreign concept. The Civil War guerilla was defined as a band of individuals fighting without direct support or leadership of the military, or leadership of the Confederate Army. Today we know these formations as bushwhackers or marauders. The next type of irregular warrior was the partisan ranger. The partisan rangers were raised by individuals and acted as irregular warriors, but were closely linked to the field armies and officeres appointed by the legal government. The most famous of the partisan rangers was John Singleton Mosby. The last type of irregular warfare was the cavalry deep-raiding, which was regular cavalry detached from the field armies to raid deep into the enemy’s rear. The best Confederate raiders were Generals John Hunt Morgan and Nathan Bedford Forrest. With the theory and practices now laid down for the reader, LTC Mackey then begins an analysis of the three types of warfare with a simple question: Why didn’t the Confederates make greater use of irregular warfare?

It was in Arkansas that, arguably, the Confederates lost the war. With the Confederate armies shattered, the Confederate States of America lost control of the upper Mississippi river. To prevent the Union army from gaining all of Arkansas and upper Louisiana, General Hindman issued the ‘Bands of Ten’ orders which called for the creation of irregular units to slow the Federal armies. The orders stated that each group with at least 10 men could elect a captain, sergeant, and corporal, and begin to raid without waiting for specific instructions from the headquarters. Also, as an afterthought, the orders tossed in a tidbit that they could draw pay and supplies when allowable, and that the Captains should report in from time to time with headquarters. Not surprisingly with such a loose coupling between the legal government and the Bands of Ten, it was not long before the raiders took to attacking civilians on both the Confederate and Federal side. The Federal response would not be a surprise to any modern student of irregular warfare. Reprisals and relocation of civilians as well as special anti-guerilla units were used to combat the bushwhackers. While it is true the bushwhackers did slow the invading Federal army, in the end they were so dangerous to everyone that both the Federal army and Confederate army had to hunt down and eliminate the guerilla units.

John Singleton Mosby was without doubt the best partisan ranger leader of the war. The areas of Virginia, and what is now West Virginia, was known as ‘Mosby’s Confederacy’ because of his ability to operate behind enemy lines with seeming impunity, and for bringing the rule of law to the areas he operated in. Mosby operated under the direction and control of the Confederate authorities which gave him legal protection and rights and most notably legitimacy in the eyes of the civilian population. Mosby’s men served because, like privateers, booty seized during the campaign would be apportioned and he would receive a share. Mosby was not driven from the field prior to 1865 because the Federal authorities failed to recognize and understand they were not dealing with a guerilla band, but a partisan ranger outfit. It was not till Sheridan’s march through the Shenandoah Valley in perhaps the greatest anti-partisan operation of the war that Mosby’s reign behind enemy lines ceased. Perhaps the truest thing that can be said for the irregular warfare in Virginia is that despite all the success that Mosby had, his unit did not materially affect the Federal army and hence was a strategic failure.

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