Trans-Mississippi, in the Civil War, refers to the Civil War west of the Mississippi River. Many books have been written, and movies and videos have been made, on the war in the East, but until recently, the war in the Trans-Mississippi has been largely forgotten. This is fertile ground, where so much history occurred and waits to be told. The first shots in the Civil War were not fired at Ft. Sumter. The fighting really began along the Missouri-Kansas border in 1854. The Trans-Mississippi was extremely important to both sides. Whichever side controlled the Mississippi River would have powerful leverage over the other. The side that had free passage on the river controlled the food, vast natural resources and supply of cotton, so important to both sides. Once the North gained control of the river, the South was split in two. There were many fascinating personalities in the Trans-Mississippi. The East has Jeb Stuart, but we have Joe Shelby, probably the best Confederate cavalry commander in the war (according to General Alfred Pleasanton.) The East also has Lee, but we have Sterling Price. (It does not matter that his abilities fall short of the great Virginian. The East has Grant and we have Samuel Curtis, one of the most underrated generals in the Civil War. We have Stand Watie, the only American Indian to become a general and the last Confederate general to surrender in the war. We also have the colorful character, the "Swamp Fox," General M. Jeff. Thompson.