Detailed Minutiae Of Soldier Life In The Army Of Nortern Virginia, 1861-1865 (Richmond Howitzers Unit History) Mccarthy, Carlton Military,Military History,Unit Histories

BOOK DESCRIPTION: 12mo, vi, 224 pgs, illustrated by Wm. L. Sheppard, with color flag plate. Original decorated mustard cloth with gilt titled cover and spine. CONDITION DESCRIPTION: Covers are soiled and lightly spotted, edges rubbed and with wear to lower spine end; otherwise, gilt is bright. Interior free endpaper has a contemporary signature of a former owner (Samuel Saunders), pages are age-toned, else clean and tight. With clear mylar wrapper. CONTENTS DESCRIPTION: The author of this work served in the Richmond Howitzer and draws from his and others around him to produce this work that largely consists of McCarthy s general observations about military service. He narrates his own experiences in the Appomattox campaign in the last few chapters. McCarthy describes the mundane details of soldier life. He describes the games they played and their eagerness to fight. He also describes scavenging the bodies of dead Union soldiers in hopes of finding food or treasure. For these kinds of details rarely found in the usual narratives, this book is particularly important. REFERENCES: DORN II #1122; IN TALL COTTON #117: This book ranks with J.G. Casler s as a bright, amusing, and informative record of Confederate soldier life. The illustrations by a fellow Confederate give it added interest. NEVINS I pg 124: This Confederate narrative is deserving of its reputation as the most interesting and the most informative of all memoirs written by privates ; McCarthy served with the Richmond Howitzers.