Books On Board
series Reading Order

Civil War Books in Order

14 Books
1968 – 2011 Published
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Reading order

The Recommended Reading Order

While J.T. Edson's Civil War series was published out of order over nearly three decades, reading the series chronologically allows you to follow Dusty Fog's military career and the Ysabel Kid's development without jumping back and forth in time. Piccadilly Publishing, the digital publisher of the series, recommends the following sequence:

  1. Comanche (1968) – The pre-war prequel introducing the Ysabel Kid.
  2. Mississippi Raider (1996) – The true start of the wartime narrative, following Belle Boyd.
  3. You're in Command Now, Mr. Fog (1973) (also published as Rebel Vengeance)
  4. The Big Gun (1973)
  5. Under the Stars and Bars (1970)
  6. The Fastest Gun in Texas (1968)
  7. A Matter of Honor (1982)
  8. Kill Dusty Fog! (1970)
  9. The Devil Gun (1979)
  10. The Colt and the Sabre (1968)
  11. The Rebel Spy (1979)
  12. The Bloody Border (1969)
  13. Back to the Bloody Border (1970) (also published as Renegade)

Understanding the Chronology and Entry Points

If you want to start exactly where the combat and military intelligence operations begin, start with Mississippi Raider. However, starting with Comanche is highly recommended because it sets up the background of the Ysabel Kid and his meeting with the Floating Outfit characters, even though the war itself hasn't broken out yet.

Alternate Titles and Common Confusion

Edson's books were frequently published under different titles in the US and the UK. Keep an eye out for these duplicates so you don't buy the same book twice:

  • You're in Command Now, Mr. Fog is the exact same novel as Rebel Vengeance.
  • Back to the Bloody Border is the exact same novel as Renegade.

Database Errors to Avoid

Many online book databases incorrectly list a 14th book in this series: Florida Civil War Blockades: Battling for the Coast (2011). This is an error. That book is a non-fiction historical work written by Nick Wynne, not a Western novel by J.T. Edson. You should skip it as it has no relation to Dusty Fog or the Floating Outfit.

Connection to the Floating Outfit Series

The Civil War series functions as a prequel subseries to J.T. Edson's massive Floating Outfit saga. The characters introduced here, such as Dusty Fog, the Ysabel Kid, and Ole Devil Hardin, go on to form the core of the Floating Outfit in the post-war American West. Reading the Civil War series first provides excellent context for their lifelong loyalties and reputation.

Frequently Asked

QWhere should I start J.T. Edson's Civil War series?

Start with Mississippi Raider if you want to jump straight into the wartime action, or start with the prequel Comanche to see how the Ysabel Kid joins the storyline.

QIs 'Florida Civil War Blockades' part of this series?

No. Florida Civil War Blockades: Battling for the Coast is a non-fiction book by Nick Wynne and is frequently miscategorized as one of J.T. Edson's books in online lists.

QAre 'Rebel Vengeance' and 'You're in Command Now, Mr. Fog' different books?

No, they are the same book. You're in Command Now, Mr. Fog was released under the alternate title Rebel Vengeance in different markets.

QHow many actual books are in J.T. Edson's Civil War series?

There are 13 novels written by J.T. Edson in this specific series, starting with Comanche in 1968 and ending with Mississippi Raider in 1996.

QHow does the Civil War series connect to the Floating Outfit?

The Civil War series is a direct prequel subseries to the larger Floating Outfit universe, detailing the wartime exploits of Dusty Fog, the Ysabel Kid, and their comrades before they became frontier legends.