Doc Crabtree Book Reviews

We are now on IndieView.... Yay! As you can see, I review almost exclusively history books (with exceptions). I will gladly review any book having to do with antiaircraft or air defense. Get in touch with me for more information.

the Modern History of Soviet Central Asia (Four Stars)

This interesting book looks not just at the Soviet states of Central Asia but also at Tsarist Russia's conquest of this territory in the 18th and 19th centuries and the imperial administration of the Muslim peoples in this part of the world. It then moves on to the October Revolution and the Russian Civil War, which spilled over into Central Asia. Despite claims of being anti-imperialist the communists made a point of absorbing this territory into the USSR, primarily by establishing nations where none had existed before. The Soviet Union chose to create Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kirghizstan and Turkmenistan, states which had never existed historically but rather were based upon linguistic, ethnic and cultural lines. The communists turned these states into economic units without the political consciousness which would have naturally resulted. Political will came from Moscow.

This study can be a bit dry at times but it does answer important questions about how Islam was treated in these SSRs, how centralized planning attempted to reorganize Central Asia to provide raw material or simple products for USSR factories and how the borders of these states were drawn. Includes photos.

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.

Rebel Watchdog (Five Stars)

If you are interested in the role of the Provost in the Confederacy this is the book for you. The Provost Guard served the modern functions of CID and Military Police in the CSA, providing railroad security, counterespionage, jailers, and even court martial authority. Radley does a great job of discussing the legal basis for provost martials and the actual practices in the field. He uses examples gleaned from letters and reports to illustrate the way in which the Provost Guard was organized and how they went about their duties.

General John H. Winder, C.S.A. (Four Stars)

A well-written book about General Winder, a U.S. Army officer who threw his lot in with the Confederacy. He was the center of controversy almost from the beginning, becoming the provost marshal of Richmond and the de fact provost marshal general of the CSA and enacting onerous edicts that Confederate citizens came to despise. He was placed in command of all Confederate POW camps, a job which opened him up for serious criticism by the Union. This book does its best to provide an even-handed treatment of Winder. Illustrated with photos.

Ashes of Glory (Four Stars)

This book does a good job of looking at Richmond as the war progressed, from its selection as the CSA's capital to its burning after the withdrawal of Lee's army. The author uses various vignettes to give the reader insight into the economics, safety, morale and population during the war years and as the war turned against the CSA. One of the few improvements I can think of would be to add a map.

Well worth reading, includes black and white photos.