This week I have been reading John Bell Hood, And the Struggle for Alanta by David Coffey. I had just completed Sul Ross, by Judith Benner.  I found both of these books in the sales store of the Civil War Museum of the West in Fort Worth, Texas. This museum is located on west Loop 820 just north of I 30. It was very easy to find and has a very nice collection of Civil War items. The collection includes both Union and Confederate weapons, equipment and clothing for both enlisted and officer and the several branches, such as cavalry and infantry. Many original flags and uniforms are well displayed. I enjoyed the many variations of individual weapons.  The artillery had some shells displayed but mostly pictures of cannons. The last room, houses a number of dresses of the period on display in glass cases.  My boys even enjoyed those, for they could go home and tell their mother about them.

The museum is housed in a nice modern building, which is very clean and well organized. They show movies through out the day and have a very courteous staff. The sales store was very good with a nice collection of books.  I had to restrain my self from buying all the books.  I did purchase a nice Texas Civil War buckle.  Their web site was not difficult to find and shows many items which are on display. There are some sites on the web which show the museum, but I under stand they were not authorized.  My comment to the museum, was not to worry, as they only peaked my interest.

Sul Ross is an excellent book and gives an excellent history of the general, governor and President of Texas A&M.   He founded many of the organizations and customs found at A&M today such as the Ross Riffle Marching Team. Of course he commanded one of the greatest Cavalry brigades of the war and many colorful illustrations of his command are noted.  I would have liked a better description of his command of the two regiments which were sent to eastern Tennessee, northern Alabama to stop the Union raid out of Chattanooga.  This information may not exist, but apparently Ross attacked in such a manner that the Union Corps thought he was a Division or more and returned to home.

John Bell Hood explains how Hood became one of the best Divisional generals of the war and of President Davis' strugle in selecting him as the replacement for Joseph Johnson. It was a stretch.  Hardee may have been a better choise, and Hardee's lack of support may have been part of Hood's problem.  On two occasions before the fall of Atlanta, A stronger effort by Hardee could have given Sherman many problems.  Part of this book is snap shot bios of the generals involved. This showed the relationship of the generals before the war.  The southern generals almost all came from the US 2nd Cavalry.  I have enjoyed reading these bios.