Book excerpt: "This ... narrative explores the impact of the Civil War on Florida's St. John's River region. Moving chronologically through the war years, Thunder on the river brings to light the story of the city of Jacksonville, including the surrounding countryside and its residents, be they white or black, supporters of the Confederacy or of the Union ... Based on a thorough review of a broad selection of primary sources, Thunder on the river touches on such important themes as secession, contested places, occupation, emancipation, invasions, hard war, and reconstruction. It presents local history in a national context and offers a comprehensive telling of the story of Florida's Civil War experiences from the Missouri Compromise to Reconstruction -- of Confederates and Unionists, of soldiers and civilians, of enlisted men and officers, of die-hards and deserters, of slaves and plantation owners, of ordinary men and women caught up in extraordinary events"--Jacket.