The Ragged Rebel

A while back I received an uncorrected proof of the new, revised edition of B. P. Gallaway’s The Ragged Rebel: A Common Soldier in W. H. Parsons’ Texas Cavalry, 1861-1865.  (I don’t see a link to the new edition on Amazon so here’s one to the ACU Press.)  First published in 1989, Gallaway used his subject’s journals and letters to tell the story of David Carey Nance of the 12th Texas Cavalry.  The unit served in the relative backwaters of the Trans-Mississippi from the Fall of 1861 through to their surrender in Northern Texas in June of 1865.  Primary sources are the backbone of a narrative that details the somewhat mundane but fascinating life of a Texas trooper.  Not surprisingly, a religious thread flows through the book (ACU is Abilene Christian University), however it’s not an overwhelming feature and is contextually appropriate.