Smith (history, U. of Tennessee at Martin), a former military park ranger, notes that the 1890s was a perfect time for survivors to establish national parks on civil war battlegrounds, citing Gettysburg, Chickamauga, Chattanooga, Shiloh, Antietam, and Vicksburg as examples. He feels that in this period the bitterness and racial tensions of reconstruction had waned and such sites have not yet become valuable in next industrial revolution to come. In addition, man the war's veterans from both sides still survived and wished to come together in a spirit of reconciliation and brotherhood. The result was the country's finest military parks and sources of research. Smith describes how each of the sites was established, who led the effort, and how the necessary legislation was written and implemented. He includes notes on park commissioners and board members. Annotation ©2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)