With the sesquicentennial of the War between the States at hand, it is an appropriate time for the release of the second edition of the Historical Dictionary of the Civil War, authored by Jones, a veteran Civil War scholar and professor of history at the University of Louisiana at Monroe.
Jones’ work follows the general pattern of other titles in the Historical Dictionaries of War, Revolution, and Civil Unrest series. A detailed, 39-page chronology begins with the acceptance by Congress of the Missouri Compromise in 1820 and ends with the surrender of the Confederate ship Shenandoah in fall 1865. The introduction offers a concise overview of the subject, ending with a 3-page discussion of the legacy of the war. The 1,700 entries in the dictionary section are well chosen and clearly and accurately defined. From the obvious inclusions, such as Gettysburg and Robert E. Lee, to those that are more obscure, such as the ill-fated Mud March and the Quaker guns, Jones does a fine job in choosing appropriate and interesting terms to discuss. Cross-referencing is made simple by the inclusion of boldface type for terms that are mentioned within the definition of entries. For those seeking quality works regarding the war and its many facets, a splendid bibliography is available.
With approximately 50,000 books and counting and innumerable articles on various aspects of the Civil War, there is no sign that interest in the subject is waning. This reference work will appeal to both the casual reader and the advanced Civil War scholar.

Booklist

In this thorough work, there are 60 new entries, and the bibliography is substantially updated. Jones (history, Univ. of Louisiana; Lee’s Tigers: The Louisiana Infantry in the Army of Northern Virginia) provides a detailed year-by-year chronology of events and a well-written introduction that describes happenings in the United States before, during, and after the war. By far the most important aspect of the work, though, is the 1700 plus–entry dictionary that includes hundreds of bolded cross-references and encompasses everything Civil War related, from battles to people, weapons to politics. Also provided are several black-and-white line maps that depict the east and west theaters of war, as well as a general map of the United States during 1860. This meticulously researched reference work will be as useful and educational for Civil War enthusiasts as for students and researchers. The timing of its publication this year commemorates the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War....An excellent title.

Library Journal

This second edition is a one-man labor of love by Jones....The second edition's arrangement follows the earlier version, beginning with introductory maps, a chronology, and a historical overview. Selection criteria indicate that the emphasis of the work is on military activities.... The bulk of the work is an A-Z dictionary containing entries for all manner of topics related to fighting the US Civil War, including individuals (the strongest aspect of the book), concepts and terminology (e.g., "embalmed beef"), battles, weapons, warships, and more. Jones makes an effort to sort out the various names and spellings given to battles or other activities. Within entries, subjects that have stand-alone citations of their own are cross-referenced with boldface type. This comprehensive volume concludes with a 92-page bibliography but has no index. It should be useful for libraries. Recommended.

Choice Reviews

If any study can claim to be definitive, Historical Dictionary of the Civil War is worthy of that description. It is impressive in almost every aspect ... a magnificent and beneficial addition to Civil War literature-everything anyone could desire from such a set ... if you are serious about the Civil War, it is a set you will own a lifetime, and therefore worth the steep price.

Civil War News

The best historical dictionary yet produced about the Civil War....Essential.

Choice Reviews

Provides a thorough chronology as well as a lengthy introduction that summarizes events contributing to the conflict and the strengths and weaknesses of each side. Entries are heavily cross-referenced ... will be a useful tool in larger Civil War collections.

Booklist