ePub Co. Aytch First Tennessee Regiment by Sam R. Watkins in History

Review

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. A Bigger; Better; Braxton Bragg-Bashin' Gloriously Unedited Version of a Classic BookBy Kaoru Hiratsuka"Co. Atych" is considered by the majority of historians and literary professors to be the best memoir written by a common soldier (either Northern or Southern) about enlisted life during the American Civil War. The original version was already considered to be something of a classic during Sam Watkin's life and he was in the process of re-writing it for another edition which he never quite finished before he passed away. (Well; he did finish it; but it was unedited...more about that in a moment.)So if "Co. Atych" is such a classic; why re-issue it in a new; hard-back version? Why not just get a cheaper paperback?The answer is simple; if you buy THIS particular copy of "Co Atych" which I am reviewing; you will be buying the REVISED and EXPANDED edition of "Co Atych" which Sam Watkins always intended to publish. In other words; you will finally be buying and reading the complete text that Sam himself envisioned but never got around to getting printed before he passed away. But you've got to make sure you are buying the Revised and Expanded version that has been edited by Ruth Fulton McAlister. (This is the one with the yellow cover; red and white banner line across the top of the cover and Sam's picture on the front.)In 1997 Ruth Fulton McAlister; Sam's Great-Grand-daughter and her cousin Jenny Harris re-discovered Sam's original personal copy of "Co Atych" that included all of his revisions which were intended to be re-edited into a master; ultimate; final copy of "Co Atych"; which would have been reprinted sometime around 1892 if Sam Watkins had been able to raise the funds for the reprint. This version is the one you see before you and was finally printed in 2007.Sam's final version; although complete; is still unedited; because he died before he could finish it. What Ruth Fulton McAlister wisely did was to simply include everything in Sam's final version; but include it in such a way that the reader can see for themselves the final version Sam was in the process of working out.In this newest version; you get ALL of the original 1882 published version of the "Co. Atych" text. When you are reading the book; this part of the manuscript is presented in Roman text and italics (where it was used in the original 1882 version...yes some of the 1882 text was high-lighted with italics...something subsequent cheaper re-edits left out.) So you will be able to see how original copies of the first 1500 editions of "Co. Atych" looked.In addition to this; you will see large sections of the book presented in BOLD text. These are sections Sam either wanted added or deleted.There are also sections of Italic within brackets. These parts of the book are what Sam wanted to be deleted from the final copy. (Note: some of these sections are absolutely WONDERFUL; but have little glitches; like where Sam accidentally talked about Romans having firearms and then caught himself making a mistake. Other deletions are where Sam got mad at somebody like Braxton Bragg and then thought the better of it. So even the deletions are well-written and often quite informative as to what Sam saw and felt during the Civil War.)Lastly; there are BOLD text within brackets. These are things Sam added and then decided he wanted out of the text for various reasonsThere is literally a wealth of information in this expanded version of "Co. Atych." The battle descriptions are now longer; with even more details. There are more funny stories and much; much more Braxton Bragg bashing. Sam (and everybody else in the Army of the Tennessee) HATED Braxton Bragg and with good reason.I've read BOTH versions of "Co. Atych" and can attest that the newer; complete edition is way; way better than the one we've all been reading up until this time. Here's just one example. In one of the earliest skirmishes; where Colonel Field ran up and saved Sam; the older version so of "Co. Atych" stated that Colonel Field used a "seven-shooting" rifle. What Sam actually wrote was the Colonel Field used a "REPEATING NEEDLE GUN." This is very significant since this is one of the few documented instances of the more advanced Prussian Bolt Action needle fire gun being used in the Civil War. (The Needle Gun was a more advanced technology invented in the 1840s...which could have given either side in the Civil War a huge advantage.) That Colonel Field used Needle Gun as his personal weapon in all his battles lends a real flavor to the story that is also of interest to military historians. People were using needle fire...albeit only a handful of officers.Here's another instance of how much richer the full version of "Co. Atych" is. "Raiding on the Roastingears" in the previously published versions ends with Sam and Byron Richardson bending the farmer's gun around a black jack tree. What the chapter was supposed to end like (after bending the farmer's shotgun) is like this: "General Bragg was a disciplinarian shooter of men; and a whipper of deserters. But he was not any part of a General. As a General he was a perfect failure; but as a shootist he was a perfect success. It mattered not when a smoke was seen to rise up; some soldier would comment on it and say; 'Waal old Bragging Braggart is startin' a new graveyard. Tother one is nigh about full.' Had Robert E. Lee been the Commander and Chief of our armies; General Joe E. Johnston our Commissary and Quartermaster; General Stonewall Jackson and General N.B. Forrest been our field commanders; and then let Bragg been the disciplinarian; whipper and shooter and hanger of evil-doers; then our cause would have been a success."The newer version also shows a more mature; mellow side of Sam. Sure he really unloads on Bragg; (who by the way had it coming!) But Sam also expresses a regret over the entire Civil War. While remaining proud of himself; and his friends; he also tries to forgive the Yankees and states; "The majority of Southern soldiers are today the most loyal to the Union. Many disown the Southern cause and have buried in forgetfulness all memory of the war." This was supposed to have been added to the final paragraph of the very first chapter; "We are One and Undivided."In fact; the first chapter of the book was supposed to end like this (and if this doesn't convince you to buy this version; nothing will!) "America has no north; no south; no east; no west; the sun rises over the hills and sets over the mountains; the compass just points up and down; and we can laugh at the absurd notion of there being a north and a south. Well; reader; let me whisper in our ear. I was in the row; and the following pages will tell what part I took in the little unpleasant misconception of there being such a thing as a north and south. The blue and gray have; like two mighty rivers; come together and now mingle into one and both now unite in the sentiment "We are one and undivided."Or how about this: Sam's classic description of the Battle of the Kennesaw Line was supposed to have had this addition. When the Confederate pickets jumped back into the works; they were yelling a warning 'That yonder comes forty lines of coffee and hard tack!" Sam also stated; "There might have been forty columns; there might have been fifty; there might have been only one column. These memories are not written from facts but only of what a private soldier saw and how he felt."In closing; I noticed that one other reviewer complained about the mistake regarding identifying the portrait of J.E.B. Stuart as Hood and knocking the book down to one star. Hey; pard; all I can say is that this is still the unedited text; yeah...it's a final copy; with everything in it; but old Sam died BEFORE he got it all done. As far as I'm concerned the error by his modern publishers of using the wrong portrait just fits in nicely with Sam's description of the Roman centurion standing guard with a rifle. Sam's final copy is a diamond in the rough; and this little mistake just makes that diamond shine that much brighter to me.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. A MUST READBy DBSam does an outstanding job of telling about the war from a "soldier's perspective". He doesn't go into history; he actually tells the reader to study the history books if that is what you are looking for. He tells it like he saw it. He tells about the things he went through from a private's point of view. Some tales are funny and some are heart wrenching; but he does an outstanding job of putting you there. It is sad that the Army of Tennessee and the entire Western Theatre of the war is often overlooked. Sam lets you know that there was also a war going on outside of Virginia!0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. One of the best civil war books everBy Carolyn W. ColeIf you love a true account of the civil war; this is the book for you. I can't say enough about this book as it held my attention and I couldn't put it down. Hard warming; shocking; and in general a true account of the day-to-day "real" world of a confederate soldier. Sam Watkins will give you a guided tour of reality as private in the civil war. I will keep this book forever in my library and will reread it again and will also share it with family and friends.