Cisco, described as a lifelong student of the Civil War, tells the story of the Union's "Black Flag" campaign, under which the Northern army committed crimes against non-military civilians of the South during the conflict. Transgressions included martial law in St. Louis and New Orleans, pillaging, destruction of whole towns, rape, kidnapping, and murder--all in the name of national unity. Drawing from primary sources such as legal grievances and personal diaries, Cisco largely follows General Sherman's activities, including the burning and shelling of Atlanta, the brutal March to the Sea, and violence against free and enslaved Confederate blacks. Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)