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A darn good reading of the memoirs of the confederate soldier Sam Watkins of the 1st Tennessee. One of the more famous book of remembrance of the war, written (and ultimately in this case listened to) eloquently and simply that coveys the thoughts and feeling s of the common soldier during that horrible war. Made more famous by Ken Burn's Civil War series, Mr. Watkins book is one that should be read or listened to by any and all who would like to get away from the academic side of the topic and get into the nitty gritty of what it was really like as a soldier for the southern side of things. This specific edition was read well enough by Pat Bottino, if I were to nit pick, I would have picked someone who had a bit more of a southern accent to do justice to the author and the topic. A four out of five for sure and would recommend to anyone who has interest in history. ( )
A rather fascinating tale from what is probably the darkest time in US history. If you're looking for first hand accounts of the US Civil War, you just found a really good one. ( )
Camp life and the daily experiences of a Rebel private. Written a couple of decades after the fact, following the fall of Reconstruction. Unrepentant traitor to his country. ( )
A gifted storyteller's first hand account of everything from the day-to-day life of a Confederate private soldier to several major battles of the Civil War. ( )
I'd never heard of Company Aytch before stumbling upon it at LibriVox performed by one of my favorite narrators, Winston Tharp. I'm glad I listened to it since it translates well to audio, Tharp has a natural gift that brings back alive this old southern raconteur's conversational memoir. At times it seemed like a modernist or post-modernist work but really it was just Sam rebelling convention. The most interesting of course is the private's view of the war and I was amazed at how brutal Confederate soldiers were treated by top commanders and other petty acts on down the line. Sam saw a lot of death and details graphically brains slopping out into food plates, etc.. terrible but he remains lighthearted. Great memoir from any war this is a classic that has been widely quoted. ( )
To the memory of my dead comrades of the Maury Grays, and the First Tennessee Regiment, who died in defense of Southern homes and liberties: also to my living comrades, nearly all of whom shed their blood in defense of the same cause, this book is respectfully dedicated by the author.
First words
About twenty years ago, I think it was – I won’t be certain, though – a man whose name, if I remember correctly, was Wm. L. Yancy – I write only from memory, and this was a long time ago – took a strange and peculiar notion that the sun rose in the east and set in the west, and that the compass pointed north and south.
Quotations
I always shot at privates. It was they that did the shooting and killing, and if I could kill or wound a private, why, my chances were so much the better. I always looked upon officers as harmless personages.
Last words
The tales is told. The world moves on, the sun shines as brightly as before, the flowers bloom as beautifully, the birds sing their carols as sweetly, the trees nod and bow their leafy tops as if slumbering in the breeze, the gentle winds fan our brow and kiss our cheek as they pass by, the pale moon sheds her silvery sheen, the blue dome of the sky sparkles with the trembling stars that twinkle and shine and make night beautiful, and the scene melts and gradually disappears forever.
Excerpts from the diary of a Confederate soldier from Tennessee, describing the battles he fought in during the Civil War.
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Book description
Samuel R. Watkins enlisted in the Confederate army in 1861, joining a company of 120 men. When the American Civil War ended four years later, he was one of only seven survivors from Company H. They had fought in every major action of the Army of Tennessee, from Shiloh to Nashville. In “Co. Aytch” he tells of his experiences on the battlefield, of the misery, glory, and horror of combat for the common soldier, and of the desperate privations of wartime life in the Confederacy. Through it all the author retains his humanity, and these memoirs are justly famous for their honesty and intimacy. A Civil War classic, much-quoted and loved.
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