Memoirs and Letters

billy_yank · Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2012 5:57 pm Post subject: Memoirs and Letters

I have been reading through some memoirs and letters, recently, and am enjoying them. It wasn't something that I had done much of in the past.

I was wondering if there were any memoirs and/or letters that you highly recommend from the Civil War, what some of your favorites might be? It doesn't really matter what arm of the service they might be (infantry, cavalry, artillery) - but my inclination is less towards the navy, unless you can convince me otherwise.

MarylandReb · Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2012 6:21 pm Post subject:

The Rick Allen Diaries "There and Back again-The Life of an Bawlmer Icon"

on a serious note I enjoy "Rebel Private Front and Rear" by William Fletcher
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He who finds no pleasure in a naked sword, a falcon's flight, a noble horse, a beautiful woman, has no real lust for life. (Early German Sword inscription)

Mark

RickAllen · Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2012 8:08 pm Post subject:

Good God, Mark........I hope not! LOL

I like Fletcher too. And for just reads, there's Gilmor and Cooke and Kyd Douglass........bunches of cool stuff to check out. I really enjoyed Company Aytch when I first read it too.

Regards,

Rick
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" Do you like French fries, Wyatt Earp?"

William · General Joined: May 04, 2004 Posts: 355 Location: Georgia

Agree with Rick. Company Aytch is a pretty solid read, it just takes a little time to get going. I think somewhere around the Battle of Chickamauga it really get's to where you can't put the book down.

Also, I really enjoyed "Berry Bensons Civil War". Take the name of the book with a grain of salt. I could be somewhat off. I read it about 10 years ago.
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Best Regards,
WBJ

MitchE · Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2012 6:37 pm Post subject:

Hello all. 'Berry Benson's Civil War Book, Memoir of a Confederate Scout and Sharpshooter' is the whole title. My favorite memoir after General John Gordons' Reminicenses of the Civil War. Fletcher and Sam Watkins were great, so was Isaac Bradwells' Under the Southern Cross. Me being so into Mississippi Regiments, I particularly enjoyed 'A Life For The Confederacy' by Robert Moore, and i'm looking forward to one day opening 'To See My Country Free' which are the diaries of three soldiers(two of them brothers) in the 17th Mississippi Infantry. I also have William Cowper Nelson and James Dinkens as well. Wow, lots of reading for Me

Regards, Mitch.
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It seems to be sacrificing much, but what should we not be willing to sacrifice, even life itself, for the liberty of our country.

Private Robert A. Moore 17th Mississippi Regiment Co. G, Confederate Guards

William · General Joined: May 04, 2004 Posts: 355 Location: Georgia

Mitch,

I've never read John Gordon's. I'll have to pick that up on your recommendation.
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Best Regards,
WBJ

MitchE · Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2012 4:53 pm Post subject:

A fantastic read sir. The man may have made a few mistakes as he wrote the memoir in the 1890's, but he sure could write. I was re-reading his account of Sharpsburg last night. I take it with me every trip to the battlefield and read whilst in Bloody Lane. Especially chilling is his recounting of his five wounds suffered that day.

Regards, Mitch.
_________________
It seems to be sacrificing much, but what should we not be willing to sacrifice, even life itself, for the liberty of our country.

Private Robert A. Moore 17th Mississippi Regiment Co. G, Confederate Guards

historypiper · Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 11:04 am Post subject:

Billy, I'm getting old, fat (fatTER) and forgetful so I'm drawing a blank on the actual title, but dig up John Dooley's memoir. VERY powerful stuff.
Regards,
Keith

RickAllen · Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 4:10 pm Post subject:

Is that the Dooley of the 1st VA, Keith?

Best,

Rick
_________________
" Do you like French fries, Wyatt Earp?"

MitchE · Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 4:15 pm Post subject:

Loved Dooley's Diary. Lee's Miserables is a great book too. Follows the ANV for the last part of the war through the words of many soldiers letters and memoirs. My copy is twice the normal thickness from all the bookmarks I put in there to mark quotes I want to go back to one day.

Regards, Mitch.
_________________
It seems to be sacrificing much, but what should we not be willing to sacrifice, even life itself, for the liberty of our country.

Private Robert A. Moore 17th Mississippi Regiment Co. G, Confederate Guards

MarylandReb · Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 5:00 pm Post subject:

Dooley's book is called "John Dooley; Confederate Soldier: His War Journal" and yes he was in the 1st Virginia. :)
_________________
He who finds no pleasure in a naked sword, a falcon's flight, a noble horse, a beautiful woman, has no real lust for life. (Early German Sword inscription)

Mark

RickAllen · Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 6:07 pm Post subject:

Thanks Mark!

Best,

Rick
_________________
" Do you like French fries, Wyatt Earp?"

billy_yank · Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2012 10:49 am Post subject:

Any idea why Longstreet's now appear to be out of print? I used to see these in stores, sometimes, but now I never do.

MitchE · Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2012 4:50 pm Post subject:

Hi Billy Yank. You can get a generic paperback from Amazon for a hefty price, but there's a Kindle edition for a buck if you don't mind the electronic version. Not sure why you don't see it in the stores any more.

Regards, Mitch.
_________________
It seems to be sacrificing much, but what should we not be willing to sacrifice, even life itself, for the liberty of our country.

Private Robert A. Moore 17th Mississippi Regiment Co. G, Confederate Guards

JnoWFairfax · Posted: Sun May 06, 2012 7:55 pm Post subject: