Watkins is today one of the most wellknown common soldiers in civil war history. Aytch, maury grays, first tennessee regiment of the. Company aytch offers a rare and exhilarating glimpse of the civil war through the eyes of a man who lived it and lived to tell about it. Though the author passed in july of 1901, his lives on as a notable piece of historical literature. A classic memoir of the civil war the heart of confederate appalachia. I could not imagine a modern infantryman putting up with the privations, executions and real battle slaughter as happened during the civil war. Text is from company aytch, or a side show of the big show, by samuel r.
A civil war narrative is an account of the american civil war told by a common soldier, sam r. Among the plethora of books about the civil war company aytch stands out for its uniquely personal view of the events as related by a most engaging writera man with twain like talents who served as a foot soldier for four long years in the confederate army. The classic memoir of the civil war by a confederate soldier. A private in company h, first tennessee infantry, sam r. Among the plethora of books about the civil war, company aytch stands out for its uniquely personal view of the events as related by a most engaging writera. The companion book to company aytch is all for the union, written by elisha hunt rhodes 2nd rhode island, usa.
This book is considered to be the best account of the civil war ever written from the confederate point of view. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3 months new customers receive 15% off your. Of the 120 men who enlisted in company h in 1861, sam watkins was one of only seven alive when general joseph e. The definitive civil war classic as sam wanted it revised complete with his edits, new perspectives. In contemporary times it has also proved to be one of the most glamorized periods of american history. He fought through the entire civil war and saw action in many battles. Company aytch is a personal, first hand account, of the life and death struggle of a confederate soldier during the civil war. Or, a side show of the big show, often heralded as one of the best primary sources.
Samuel sam rush watkins 18391901 was a confederate soldier during the american civil war. When running a book program or giveaway on a limited budget, we understand the challenges you can face finding high quality, lowcost books. H spelled aytch is what attracted me to the book thirty years ago. The author was in company h of the first tennessee all through the civil war, and it is as good a memoir as i have read of that war by one who fought in it. Sam watkins, a high private in the army of tennessee, brings a vividness and detail to his story. Aytch, first tennessee regiment, published more than 125 years after the original. Aytch has long been regarded as one of the finest memoirs written by a common soldier of the american civil war. Watkins, who was born near columbia, tennessee, in 1839, enlisted in company h of the first. Sam watkins co aytch performed by thomas cartwright. Sam watkins describes the bloody battles he lived through from shiloh, chickamauga, dead angle, and many other engagements with the union forces until the very end of the war when lee surrendered to grant in virginia. Watkins is often featured and quoted in ken burns 1990 documentary titled the civil war. Aytch is the work of a natural storyteller who balances the horror of war with his irrepressible sense of humor and his sharp eye for the lighter side of battle. It should be noted that his regiment entered the war with 3,200 men, and ended with merely 65. June 26, 1839 july 20, 1901 was an american writer and humorist.
Very carefully and with terrific sensitivity, one would hope. Genealogyblog the civil war memoir of sam watkins, veteran of every hardfought battle of company h, first tennessee volunteer infantry, remains the premier source of the privates view of that colossal struggle. United states history civil war, 18611865 personal narratives, confederate subject. Tennessee infantry regiment, 1st, united states history civil war, 18611865 regimental histories tenn. Company aytch history 101 company aytch is a book that depicts the idealistic memory of a young confederate of the civil war named sam watkins. Person was delighted with book and began reading and looking through pages right away. Aytch, or a side show of the big show by sam watkins and edited by philip leigh.
Civil war historian thomas cartwright portrays the books author, sam watkins. Aytch, maury grays, first tennessee regiment by samuel r. Was a brilliant gift for anyone interested in american civil war. A confederates memoir of the civil war the civil war was one of the bloodiest periods in american history. Aytch was published in a first edition of 2,000 in book form in 1882.
Among civil war memoirs, it is considered a classic a living testament to one mans enduring humanity, courage, and wisdom in. Watkins was 21 when he joined the 1st tennessee regiment, maury grays, at the end of the war he was one of only seven survivors, very nice copy in protected dust jacket. In 1962, collier books opportunistically published it along with seven other outof civil war books, such as the memoirs of union generals ulysses s. Samuel sam rush watkins june 26, 1839 july 20, 1901 was a noted confederate. Fortunately, ruth hill fulton mcallister has mastered this approach in her new release of co. In 188182, sams memoirs of the civil war were printed in the columbia herald newspaper and then published as the book co. Aytch, maury grays, first tennessee regiment, or, a side show of the big show, by sam r. Originally, these memoirs were published serially in the columbia herald in 18811882. When it comes to books about the civil war, many people agree wholeheartedly, company aytch is the best ever written. Or, a side show of the big show, often heralded as one of the best primary sources about the common soldiers civil war experience. Aytch is the work of a natural storyteller who balances the horror of war with an irrepressible sense of humor. Company aytch has reigned as one of the most memorable and honest depictions of the american civil war since its original publication in 1882. Between the authors death in 1901 and the civil war centennial in the early 1960s, co.
United states history civil war, 18611865 regimental histories subject. A side show of the big show is the work of samuel rush watkins, who served much of the american civil war in the first tennessee infantry, company h maury greys, fighting in the battles of shiloh, corinth, murfreesboro, shelbyville, chattanooga, chickamauga, missionary ridge, atlanta, jonesboro, franklin, and nashville, before being one of just seven surviving veterans in. A classic memoir of the civil war watkins, samuel r. Aytch is the work of a natural storyteller who balances the horror of war with an irrepressible sense of humor and a sharp eye for the lighter side of battle. A confederate memoir of the civil war company aytch or a side show of the big show. Id never heard of it at the time but i figured it was about a southern soldier. Or, a side show of the big show is the personal memoir of american civil war veteran samuel sam rush watkins. It is also the one most frequently cited by historians of the western campaigns. Company aytch is considered a classic in this genera, as well as it should be. It is a testament to one mans enduring humanity, courage, and wisdom in the midst of death and destruction.
Among the plethora of books about the civil war, company aytch stands out for its uniquely personal view of the events as related by a most engaging writera man with twainlike talents who served as a foot soldier for four long years in the confederate army. Watkins was a private in company h, first tennessee regiment of the confederate army. Today, he is best known for his enduring memoir, co. Aytch was seldom reprinted and always in small editions. He marched and camped and fought with company h of the first tennessee regiment from the beginning until the end of the war. In celebration of the 150th anniversary of the civil war. Written in 1882 by private sam watkins of company h, 1st tennessee infantry regiment, private watkins was involved in all the major fighting in the west and even some in the east. A side show of the big show unabridged audiobook, by sam watkins.
Western north carolina in the civil war civil war america. The classic memoir of the civil war by a confederate soldier sam r. Watkins 1839 1901 samuel sam rush watkins june 26, 1839 july 20, 1901 was a noted confederate soldier during the american civil war. Often heralded as one of the most reliable and informative primary sources on the civil war, watkins describes his experiences during his service as an infantryman in the confederate army. Company aytch, or, a side show of the big show and other.
Sams writing style is quite engaging and skillfully captures the pride, misery, glory, and horror experienced by the common foot soldier. Watkins read 5 jun 2011 this book was written in 1881 and first published in book form in 1882. Watkins originally published by the chattanooga times, chattanooga, tennessee, 1900, and now in the public domain. Watkinss firsthand account of life as a confederate soldier eloquently captured the realities of war, the humor and pathos of soldiering, and the tragic, historic events in which he participated. Among civil war memoirs, it stands as a living testament to one mans enduring humanity, courage, and wisdom in the midst of death and destruction. Aytch is heralded by many historians as one of the best war memoirs written by a common soldier of the field. Despite his low rank, watkins has found immortality through his 1882 memoir company aytch. Real, brutal and gritty it is well war is so terrible otherwise, we would grow too fond of it. Some historians articulate towards watkins having insufficiency of precise facts and sometimes alteration or exaggeration on certain issues. Aytch, maury grays, first tennessee regiment or, a side show of the big show language.
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