Digby Seymour's Divided Loyalties: Fort Sanders and the Civil War in East Tennessee offers a compelling and meticulously researched account of one of the most complex and fiercely contested regions during the American Civil War. Focusing on East Tennessee—a region where Union and Confederate sympathies were deeply intertwined—Seymour examines the social, political, and military struggles that defined the area's wartime experience. At the heart of the book is the Battle of Fort Sanders, a crucial engagement in the Knoxville Campaign of 1863. Seymour provides a detailed analysis of the battle's strategic importance, the leadership of figures like General James Longstreet and General Ambrose Burnside, and the challenges posed by East Tennessee's divided population. Through vivid descriptions and extensive use of primary sources, he brings to life the tension, bravery, and desperation that characterized the fight for control over this vital stronghold. Beyond the battlefield, Divided Loyalties delves into the broader struggles faced by East Tennesseans, who found themselves caught between opposing forces in a war that split families, communities, and allegiances. Seymour explores the region's resistance to secession, its role in Unionist guerrilla activity, and the hardships endured by civilians as armies clashed over their land. Rich in historical detail and narrative depth, Divided Loyalties is an essential read for Civil War enthusiasts, military historians, and anyone seeking to understand the war's impact on the often-overlooked but strategically significant region of East Tennessee.