the Notorious Isaac Earl and His Scouts (Five Stars)

The need for Union scouts able to track and defeat Confederate guerrillas led commanders to organize ad hoc units capable of moving swiftly through enemy territory, collecting intelligence and conducting hit-and-run attacks. Lt. Isaac Earl, a soldier with the 4th Wisconsin, proved to be an able counterinsurgency fighter and his story is interesting and noteworthy. Earl operated along the Mississippi River, defeating enemy guerrilla bands and smugglers in this area. His raids did much to keep the Confederates from mounting efforts to retake territory.

Olson's writing keeps you involved in the narrative and does justice to this rarely-told story. Illustrated with maps and black-and-white photos.