They fought in the Shenandoah campaign that blazed Stonewall Jackson's reputation. They fought in the Seven Days' Battles and at Antietam; Fredericksburg; Chancellorsville; and Gettysburg; in the Wilderness campaign; and at Spotsylvania. At the surrender they were beside General Robert E. Lee in Appomattox. From the beginning of the war to its very end the men of the Sixteenth Mississippi endured. In this collection of their letters and their memories; both historians and Civil War buffs will find the fascinating words of these common soldiers in one of the most notable units in the Army of Northern Virginia. Gathered and available here for the first time; the writings in this anthology include diary entries; letters; and reminiscences from average Mississippi men who fought in the war's most extraordinary battles. Chronologically arranged; the documents depict the pace and progress of the war. Emerging from their words are flesh-and-blood soldiers who share their courage and spirit; their love of home and family; and their loneliness; fears; and campaign trials. From the same camp come letters that say; "Our troops are crazy to meet" the enemy and; "It is not much fun hearing the balls and shells a-coming." Soldiers write endearingly to wives; earnestly to fathers; longingly to mothers; and wistfully to loved ones. With wit and dispatch they report on crops and land; Virginia hospitality; camp rumors and chicanery; and encounters; both humorous and hostile; with the Yankee enemy. Many letters convey a yearning for home and loved ones; closing with such phrases as "Write just as soon as you get this." Though the trials of war seemed beyond the limits of human endurance; letter writing created a lifeline to home and helped men persevere. So eager was Jesse Ruebel Kirkland to keep in touch with his beloved Lucinda that he penned; "I am on my horse writing on the top of my hat just having met the mail carrier."
#2485726 in Books 2016-01-15Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.30 x 1.30 x 6.20l; .0 #File Name: 1574416111432 pages
Review
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy RedemptionFantastic book!2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. The life of an iconoclastic Officer during the Civil WarBy Barb LawrenceI received this book as part of a Goodread's First Reads giveaway. I was interested in learning more about an officer in the U.S. Army that habitually butted heads with authority. I was not disappointed.Henry Lazelle was a free-thinker who; while committed to a lifetime career as an Army officer; refused to be deterred from what he considered to be the right motives and actions by the policies of superior officers he saw as deficient. From his acceptance as a cadet as West Point at the age of 17; Lazelle marched to the beat of his own drum; even as he strove to be an honorable and successful student. Time after time Lazelle pushed back on orders he believed to be contrary to the spirit of the military code of conduct. He suffered repeated censure and disciplinary action for acting in a manner he felt was appropriate for an officer and a gentleman.Although the narrative was a bit dry at times and peppered with an abundance of dates and details; I found this to be a very readable biography. It took on a personal note as it was written by Lazelle's great-grandson; and contains some fascinating photos from the era of the Civil War and the army's campaign to contain the Native Americans during the push to occupy and settle the West.I highly recommend this book to lovers of history and biographies.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A Forgotten Soldier-ScholarBy Albert A. NofiA summary of the review on StrategyPage.Com'Lazelle (1832-1917); attended West Point (Class of 1855); and served on the frontier against Apaches and other Indians in the ante bellum Army. Captured in Texas at the outbreak of the Civil War; Lazelle was not exchanged for a very long time; and then spent much of the war on Commissary Duty; seeing only limited combat service; albeit that leading cavalry against John Mosby. Post war he chased Indians; served on the frontier; was Commandant of Cadets at West Point; and then became editor of the Official Records; perhaps his most important duty; while rising to colonel and regimental command before retiring. A somewhat contentious fellow; Lazelle stood up for what he thought was right; perhaps a little more ardently than customary in the Army; which caused him some problems and; he believed; impeded his career; but he did well compared with his classmates; and ended up as a brigadier general on the retired list. Carson; the general’s several generations removed son-inlaw; tells Lavelle’s story well; and weaves into it a great deal of information on life and military service in his times.'For the full review; see StrategyPage.Com
