Timothy B. Smith is the author of eighteen books on the American Civil War, including Early Struggles for Vicksburg: The Mississippi Central Campaign and Chickasaw Bayou, October 25–December 31, 1862.

Every Civil War figure should be fortunate enough to have such an important book written about his life and career by such an outstanding scholar." - John F. Marszalek, author of Commander of All Lincoln's Armies: A Life of General Henry W. Halleck"Timothy B. Smith explores a man both flawed and formidable, a chess player by choice yet unafraid to 'roll the iron dice.' This is a much-needed modern view of a man of many contradictions." - Larry J. Daniel, author of Engineering in the Confederate Heartland"Smith undertakes a painstaking analysis of Albert Sidney Johnston as a man and a soldier, illuminating his dual nature as a careful chess player and an impulsive gambler, and how it led him to the disasters of 1862. A truly fresh and perceptive study of perhaps the greatest might-have-been of the western Confederacy." - Sam Davis Elliott, author of Isham G. Harris of Tennessee: Confederate Governor and United States Senator

Timothy B. Smith is the author of eighteen books on the American Civil War, including Early Struggles for Vicksburg: The Mississippi Central Campaign and Chickasaw Bayou, October 25–December 31, 1862.

Every Civil War figure should be fortunate enough to have such an important book written about his life and career by such an outstanding scholar." - John F. Marszalek, author of Commander of All Lincoln's Armies: A Life of General Henry W. Halleck"Timothy B. Smith explores a man both flawed and formidable, a chess player by choice yet unafraid to 'roll the iron dice.' This is a much-needed modern view of a man of many contradictions." - Larry J. Daniel, author of Engineering in the Confederate Heartland"Smith undertakes a painstaking analysis of Albert Sidney Johnston as a man and a soldier, illuminating his dual nature as a careful chess player and an impulsive gambler, and how it led him to the disasters of 1862. A truly fresh and perceptive study of perhaps the greatest might-have-been of the western Confederacy." - Sam Davis Elliott, author of Isham G. Harris of Tennessee: Confederate Governor and United States Senator

Timothy B. Smith is the author of eighteen books on the American Civil War, including Early Struggles for Vicksburg: The Mississippi Central Campaign and Chickasaw Bayou, October 25–December 31, 1862.

Every Civil War figure should be fortunate enough to have such an important book written about his life and career by such an outstanding scholar." - John F. Marszalek, author of Commander of All Lincoln's Armies: A Life of General Henry W. Halleck"Timothy B. Smith explores a man both flawed and formidable, a chess player by choice yet unafraid to 'roll the iron dice.' This is a much-needed modern view of a man of many contradictions." - Larry J. Daniel, author of Engineering in the Confederate Heartland"Smith undertakes a painstaking analysis of Albert Sidney Johnston as a man and a soldier, illuminating his dual nature as a careful chess player and an impulsive gambler, and how it led him to the disasters of 1862. A truly fresh and perceptive study of perhaps the greatest might-have-been of the western Confederacy." - Sam Davis Elliott, author of Isham G. Harris of Tennessee: Confederate Governor and United States Senator