About This Site

This site goes with West of the War, C. V. Wooster's narrative history of the Civil War west of the Mississippi. It starts with the Mojave War of 1858 to 1859 and runs through the end of the Navajo internment at Bosque Redondo in 1868. The book treats that decade as a single story. It covers the Confederate invasion of New Mexico, the cotton road through Mexico, the Cherokee Nation's own civil war, Sand Creek, the Long Walk and the last Confederate surrender.

Until the book is out, this site is a place to start reading about the period. The blog has short pieces on forts, stage roads and campaigns of the era, and each one lists its sources at the end. The FAQ answers common questions about the book. The author page lists C. V. Wooster's other books.

How the history is handled

West of the War is nonfiction. Quotations are taken from primary sources like letters, diaries, depositions and official reports. Accounts often disagree, especially on casualty counts and dates. When they do, the book and this site point that out instead of going with the most dramatic number.

Who publishes it

Taciturn Studios LLC publishes the site and the book. The film at the top of the home page is AI-generated. It's labeled as an artistic interpretation and is not archival footage. The media credits page has the details.

If you have a question or a correction, please send it through the contact page.