Rebels in Blue: The Story of Keith and Malinda Blalock

by Peter F. Stevens

Book Overview

This Civil War story follows the real-life exploits of a married couple who fought side-by-side as soldiers for the North, the South, and finally for a band of marauding, pro-Union partisans.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0878331662
• ISBN13: 9780878331666
• Release Date: May 1999
• Publisher: Taylor Trade Publishing
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 1.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.2" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS BOOK FOR YEARS

I am the grt. grt. grt. grt. niece of the "daring and notoriuous" Col. George W. Kirk. Over the years I have done a great deal of research on Kirk, and, as the author did, often came across mention of the Blalocks, and I, too, was fascinated by the couple. From what I knew of the Rebels in Blue, I was certain that if someone could do the research and connect all of the fragmented material the result would be a fantastic thriller, full of real-life colorful characters. It is a story of loyalty and rebelion, devotion and betrayal, love and hate,freinds and foes,survival and death, heroes and villains - the story of my family's heritage as well as our nation's. The end result of Steven's writing the book that I had longed for far exceeded my expectations, and I am certain that any who read Rebels in Blue will agree that this story is well worth reading.

Great Civil War Biography of the Blalocks

I found this book strictly by accident at the library. Being a Civil War buff all my life and reading any biography I can get my hands on during that period, I was really thrilled when I came across this book.It is wonderful to read about Keith and Malinda Blalock and all they endured and suffered. A great accounting of their lives and those around them. Their exploits in the mountains of North Carolina was riviting. I couldn't put this book down.The only disappointment was the author did not get more into Keith and Malinda's lives and the lives of their children once they returned to their home after the war. It would have been interesting to read about their children that they had and their lives.The author did a wonderful job researching the Blalocks and all that they lived through.A must read for any history-loving person who loves biographies.

A Tale of Love and Loss

Okay, so that sort of a review title makes Rebels in Blue sound like a schlocky romance novel, but the underpinning bond between Keith and Malinda Blalock is part of what makes this book so interesting. Western North Carolina -- long home to violent familial feuds -- found itself greatly divided in the 1860 elections and the early days of the Civil War. Although the use of force by the U.S. to keep the South in the Union caused many to join the Confederates, pro-Union sentiment in the region was still present in the form of desertion from CSA service, "draft dodging," fleeing to behind Union lines, and active guerrilla resistance to the Confederacy.Stevens does a fine job of examining the home-front violence in Appalachia during the Civil War and in illuminating the story of the Blalocks. The book is quite well balanced, noting atrocities committed by the Blalocks and their enemies, as well as shortcomings in the actions of U.S. and Confederate troops and officers. And he does it all in a manner that draws the reader in.

Rebel Bluecoats

Peter F. Steven's civil war account of a southern couple,married on the eve of the great conflict and serving the Union forces, was deeply researched by the author. Historicaly, the Appalachian mountian region was a political hotbed of divided people in the unavigatable mountian regions.This book, released during the present controversy over the Confederate battle flag flying in the south, only proves that not all southerners of the year 1861 wished to leave the Union. Hardships endured by Keith and Malinda Blalock serving the Federal forces are extreme in nature. Not even the fearless General Sherman wanted to venture into the rocky crags of these mountians.This book is a must for any true historian of the south to realize the whole and complete picture of the War Between the States.