Hello.

Welcome to Inside the Cover, your locally produced show where we seek to inform, entertain and educate.

I am Ted Ayres and I am honored that you have welcomed me into your home this evening.

And as always, thanks for supporting PBS Kansas.

Tonight's book is The Civil War in Kansas by Debra Goodrich Bissell.

This book was copyrighted in 2012, and I finished my copy on April 22, 2023.

I recently discovered the book at the Kansas African American Museum, and I'm so pleased that I did.

I enjoyed the book and decided to share it with you.

It is now time to go inside the cover.

Ms. Bissell is a native Virginian who adopted Kansas as her home after graduating from Washburn University.

History is her first passion.

Subtitled Ten Years of Turmoil.

The author takes us back to 1854 and those years before and during the Civil War.

In the foreword, General Richard Myers, a native son and former president of Kansas State University, notes.

“If you like reading about political intrigue, terrorism, guerrilla warfare, corruption and stories of great personal sacrifice and courage, you'll be absolutely fascinated by this book.

” I concur with the general.

This book is about people, places and events in Kansas.

You will learn about the famous or perhaps infamous individuals who were a part of Kansas history.

John Brown, Cyrus.

K. Holliday, William T Sherman, James H Lane and William Clark Quantrill.

And you will also read about those of lesser fame, but whose impact on Kansas and United States history was nevertheless compelling.

Isaac Cody, the father of Buffalo Bill Cody.

Joseph Savage.

Charles Robinson.

John and Mary Ritchie.

John Montgomery, and Samuel and Florella Adair.

You will also learn how Kansans established the first northern African-American unit recruited to fight in the Civil War, the first Kansas Colored Infantry.

These units were the first to see battle and the first to suffer casualties.

Although these units didn't get the recognition of the 54th Massachusetts as portrayed in the movie Glory, they fought with great distinction during the Civil War.

As a native Missourian, I also appreciate Bisels recognition that the stories of Kansas and Missouri are likewise entwined and are usually told from very different perspectives.

Each is valid and I encourage you to look at the other side of the border.

Bisel also writes “No other state's history is so entwined with America's Civil War as that of Kansas.

Born of the war, the cause of the war, Kansas exists as a monument to the second birth of freedom that freed millions of Americans and demonstrated that the bonds of union were strong enough to survive the epic struggle.

” Bisels writing is clear, concise and direct.

The book is annotated and includes a comprehensive and voluminous bibliography.

For those who wish to learn more, I particularly enjoyed the appendix where the author notes: “Following the Civil War, so many veterans moved to Kansas that it was nicknamed the Soldier State.

The roll call of county and town names is an honor roll of the war.

Geary, Sedgwick, Scott, McPherson.

Reno.

Grant, Kearney, Sherman, Logan, Sheridan, Leavenworth, Thomas, Meade, Wallace, Rice, Crawford, Lyon and Barton.

Named for Civil War nurse Clara Barton, the only woman for whom a Kansas county is named.

These were names known throughout the nation.

Many of these people were honored by the troops who knew them and served with them.

But what of the lesser known men for whom Kansas counties are named as one example?

Ellis County Honors George Ellis.

First Lieutenant Company I, 12th Kansas Infantry Killed in battle on April 30, 1864, at Jenkins Ferry, Arkansas.

That's our show.

Tonight's book has been The Civil War in Kansas by Debra Goodrich Bisel.

I am pleased to share this book with you and to recommend it to you.

Goodnight and I look forward to our next visit about books, authors and reading right here on PBS Kansas, the home of Seriously Good TV.

Goodnight.