Early in May 1861, twenty-one-year-old Sam R. Watkins of Columbia, Tennessee, joined the First Tennessee Regiment. He fought in all of its major battles, from Shiloh to Nashville. Twenty years later, with a "house full of young 'rebels' clustering around my knees and bumping about my elbows," he wrote the remarkable account of "Co. Aytch," its common foot soldiers, its commanders, its Yankee enemies, its victories and defeats, and its ultimate surrender on April 26, 1865.
Co. 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. Among Civil War memoirs, it stands as a living testament to one man's enduring humanity, courage, and wisdom in the midst of death and destruction.
Download and start listening now!
"I can't believe I just gave a Civil War history, non-fiction book five stars. I guess I should have expected it when I actually found myself rooting for the South. I think everyone should read this book, and that every war should have something similar written--it humanizes the soldiers on both sides and shows that war is not the glorious undertaking civilians seem to think it is." — Laurie (5 out of 5 stars)
"I can't believe I just gave a Civil War history, non-fiction book five stars. I guess I should have expected it when I actually found myself rooting for the South. I think everyone should read this book, and that every war should have something similar written--it humanizes the soldiers on both sides and shows that war is not the glorious undertaking civilians seem to think it is."
“A better book there never was.”
“Sam’s bird’s-eye view, coupled with his almost ‘Forrest Gumpian’ ability to be in the right place at the right time, has drawn historians, scholars, and boy soliders like myself to his tales for over a century.”
“Anyone who wishes to hear a Southern view of why they fought should hear Watkins…This work is moving and always fascinating because it is a great text penned by a man who has seen the spectrum of human cruelty, horror, and kindness.”
“No memoir by a rebel participant is richer in intimate details than this engaging story.”
" Leave it to a Southerner to write the best Civil War memoir I've read to date. The Army of the Tennessee was doomed when Albert Sidney Johnston was killed at Shiloh and Bragg took over...what followed was a war of attrition...Those damn Virginians never really tried to defend any other states beyond grand ole Virginny "
" This book was heart wrenching. It has to be read with a firm understanding of both sides of the Civil War. I thought this memoir did a fantastic job of showing the interaction and day to day soldiering of the men who fought on both sides. "
" A memoir by a common soldier of the 1st Tennessee. Not a history, a biography or anything other than Watkins' remembrances 20 years after the war. Engaging and interesting episodic tales of everything from Battle of Chattanooga to funny sketches of sermons he heard and meals he ate. Excellent book to read while also reading Grant's memoirs! "
" Excellent look at the war from an insider. Particularly interesting are this rebel soldier's views on slavery (he didn't own a slave and thought it a "rich man's war" once those who owned 50 or more slaves were exempted from the confederate draft) and his witness of various hangings of those who deserted the war. "
" Students really enjoyed this book. great for teaching, giving ground level view of war, also interesting because it is from the Confederate point of view "
" A classical and well written journal of a Confederate enlisted man during the American Civil War. Provides a depth not found in general histories of the Civil War. "
" You want to read this to know the story of the confederate foot soldier. Yeah, you have to read this one. It's dang good. "
" A book I have read and re-read dozens of times over the years. Combines humor, horror, political theory, and social commentary into one of the most entertaining American books ever. "
" This would be one of my if-I-were-on-a-desert-island books; probably one of the best-written memoirs to come out of the American Civil War. "
" Bone chilling accounting of our Civil War. Federal Government or States Rights...??? "
" The quintessential private soldier's memoir of the Civil War. "
" This is an outstanding book of the Civil War, from the point of view of confederate soilder Sam Watkins. First published a a newspaper serial, Mr. Watkins relates how the war was seen by the "webfoot" or line soilder. An easy read full of interesting images. "
" Based on the journals of a middle TN Confederate soldier--it changed my perpective of the Civil War. It includes humor and sadness. It paints a very realistic perspective of what life was like for the common soldiers. "
" Great first-hand account of life in the Confederate Army by a man who was there for the entire length of the Civil War. Both humorous and horrific. "
" This was a good first hand account by a Confederate soldier. "
" A poignant and endearing memoir of Mr. Watkins's service in the First Tennessee. The author is an exceptional storyteller, and reading his reminiscences these many years later is a true pleasure. "
" Reading this for a class. Aycth is "h"! It was pretty mundane and very skimmable. "
" Good stuff - very enjoyable "
" A personal biogarphy of a southern soldiers stint during the civil war. In my mind the best book about the civil war from a personal perspective ever written. It is powerful, dramatic and very very real. "
" Readable despite the flowery language of the period, and very valuable for its perspective. Also occasionally quite funny. "
Samuel R. Watkins was born on June 26, 1839, near Columbia, Tennessee. He enlisted in the First Tennessee Infantry, Company H, at the beginning of the Civil War. Upon surrender, Watkins was one out of only seven men remaining from the 120 originally enlisted in his regiment. Sam was encouraged by friends and family to write down his memories. First run as a newspaper series, his memoirs were put into book form in 1882 and almost immediately hailed as an important Civil War work.
Audiobooks Were Restored to Your Cart
[ShoppingCartItemsAddedOnMerge] audiobook(s) were left in your cart from a previous visit, and saved to your account for your convenience. You may view or remove these audiobooks on the shopping cart page.