“Lockett and the Devil’s Path” is the fourth in a series of historical fiction by author T.J. Johnston, but it’s certainly readable as a standalone work. And fans of the series will not be disappointed as Mr. Johnston’s main character, James Lockett, is back, handily immersing himself in the day-to-day drama of the Civil War.
Mr. Johnston brings to light a significant campaign during the Civil War that has garnered less attention than larger battles. The work opens in March 1863 and focuses on the events leading to Tennessee’s Tullahoma Campaign in June of the same year. This successful campaign marked a turn in the Civil War: In less than two weeks, the Army of the Cumberland brilliantly outmaneuvered the Confederate Army of Tennessee, driving them out of Middle Tennessee. The Union secured a region rich in agriculture, which set up the Union Army strategically for major battles around Chattanooga, as well as the eventual struggle for Atlanta.
