Marlitta H. Perkins studied photography/print making at CCAD. In 1996, the focus of her work shifted to historic research of the Civil War, with an emphasis on Eastern Kentucky. Her work has appeared in various publications. Ms. Perkins has also participated as panelist in Civil War seminars/round tables and designed Civil War exhibits. As co-founder of Buffington Island Battlefield Group, Inc. she was also engaged in historic preservation. Slavery in Eastern Kentucky, her groundbreaking research about antebellum African-Americans, was published in 2013. “The Most Brilliant Little Victory is an excellent book length history, the first of its kind, of a military operation typically relegated to a footnote in other works and fought in a region largely neglected by Civil War scholarship. The ending may even hint at a follow up volume covering Garfield's expedition, which would be much welcomed given the quality of work demonstrated by Perkins." (Civil War Books and Authors)