DCMS Teacher Publishing Local History Book about Civil War

I did not like my history classes when I attended Western Kentucky University. I only had to take two of them and neither professor acted like he wanted to be there. Consequently, those of us slogging through their disinterest didn't either.

On the other hand, my eighth grade history teacher, Don Nall, and my 11th grade history teacher, the late Floyd Hooks, made history fun. Very enjoyable. Mr. Nall gave me extra credit for planning a history-themed vacation. Mr. Hooks went the unconventional route and managed to focus on events that most history teachers don't cover. For example, when we got around to the 1920s, he taught us about the invention of crossword puzzles, the explosive popularity of the film industry, and bathtub gin.

Lovers of history really know how to make it fun for their students.

Derrick Lindow, an eighth grade history teacher at Daviess County Middle School, was bitten by the history bug at a young age and has now signed a contract to publish a book about Daviess County and the Civil War.

Laid Low in the Dust: Partisan Warfare in Western Kentucky is the working title of a book about guerrilla and partisan warfare and a group of men known as the Partisan Rangers. It sort of expounds on a 10-page college research paper Derrick was inspired to write after reading a historical marker on Highway 431 that summarizes the Battle of Panther Creek.

Always a source of great interest for him, he began the process of publishing the book three years ago.

I asked Derrick about guerrilla and partisan warfare as it pertains to the Civil War and he explained that guerrillas and the Partisan Rangers essentially "operated outside the bounds of conventional warfare" and "saw the war as an opportunity to plunder."

They were involved in skirmishes in both Hopkins and Union Counties and were instrumental in Newburgh, Indiana becoming the first northern town to be captured by the Confederates--an event so monumental, it made headlines in British newspapers. Ultimately, the Partisan Rangers' and Confederate soldiers' undoing occurred in Owensboro.

I'd imagine you could piece together quite a journal for yourself just by noting ALL the historical markers you see in the area.

It's that kind of interest that's led Derrick to a publishing deal with Savas Beatie, a company that specializes in works about the Civil War.

Upon release, Laid Low in the Dust: Partisan Warfare in Western Kentucky will be available on the publisher's website in addition to Amazon and other sites and locations.