audiobook Four Years with the Iron Brigade: The Civil War Journals of William R Ray; Co. F; Seventh Wisconsin Infantry by William R Ray in History

Review

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A Decent ReadBy Gary RembiszI personally enjoy reading primary sources. I liked it a lot. Ray's diary read like I would expect a soldier of today to write with the same experiences. I expected a lot more detail about the battles; like Gettysburg; that he experienced. Ray was wounded more than a few times; yet didn't make too big of a thing about it; just as you would expect a soldier to do. I did enjoy the details of a soldier's life and opinions; but wished that there were more. Ray did seem to be very straight laced because he never mentioned that he drank any alcohol or gambled. He didn't complain too much about the food or the sutlers yet I expected him to. This is more than a decent book to read of the period.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Daily infantry life documented!By Todd E. NewmanThe story of William Ray's is not entirely unique to Civil War history although his personal account brought forth by four years of great diary keeping brings the soldier daily grind to the forefront. Ray's story is seldom full of action and captures the daily life of a young man of Wisconsin heritage fighting for the Union in the Army of the Potomac. What flavors this monotonous story is that it truly brings the hard lifestyle of 19th Century soldiering to 21st Century readers. This is an excellent book for historians looking to understand soldier thinking. Ray writes about camp life; rumors; gossip; money; family; drill; picket duty; sickness; friends and the "hurry up and wait" philosophy of being an infantry soldier for the Union during the Civil War. Ray's coverage of his fighting is brisk although many times his writing may have been tamed by the fact that he may have been writing with family in mind. He may have not wanted his family to know the hard battle details in the event of his death where his diary could be discovered and sent home with his belongings. Injured on several occasions such as the Battle of Gettysburg and The Wilderness; Ray enhances his story to give this book added information. He writes about his wounds; healing; being sick and helping his fellow soldiers. We are lucky to have such a large diary written which covers four years of the war. From his enlisting; re-enlisting and final discharge Ray offers us a priceless look at a common infantry soldier. His diary notes of the Siege of Petersburg and the mine explosion was very interesting. The ugly daily life of trench warfare certainly painted the struggle at hand. Ray also gives us a definitive look at how the South was truly struggling as of 1864 and when 1865 rolls around he writes about Confederate deserters coming across the lines on a daily basis. This information is seldom covered from a soldier's perspective and it is vital for those looking to understand the mentality of an everyday soldier who by 1864 was a proud Veteran of the boys of '61. This book is also an excellent and valuable reference tool for those trying to learn about the Iron Brigade and more importantly the 7th Wisconsin. A true historian could use a greatly documented book such as this in their library. 5 STARS!!!!!2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Daily infantry life documented!By Todd E. NewmanThe story of William Ray's is not entirely unique to Civil War history although his personal account brought forth by four years of great diary keeping brings the soldier daily grind to the forefront. Ray's story is seldom full of action and captures the daily life of a young man of Wisconsin heritage fighting for the Union in the Army of the Potomac. What flavors this monotonous story is that it truly brings the hard lifestyle of 19th Century soldiering to 21st Century readers. This is an excellent book for historians looking to understand soldier thinking. Ray writes about camp life; rumors; gossip; money; family; drill; picket duty; sickness; friends and the "hurry up and wait" philosophy of being an infantry soldier for the Union during the Civil War. Ray's coverage of his fighting is brisk although many times his writing may have been tamed by the fact that he may have been writing with family in mind. He may have not wanted his family to know the hard battle details in the event of his death where his diary could be discovered and sent home with his belongings. Injured on several occasions such as the Battle of Gettysburg and The Wilderness; Ray enhances his story to give this book added information. He writes about his wounds; healing; being sick and helping his fellow soldiers. We are lucky to have such a large diary written which covers four years of the war. From his enlisting; re-enlisting and final discharge Ray offers us a priceless look at a common infantry soldier. His diary notes of the Siege of Petersburg and the mine explosion was very interesting. The ugly daily life of trench warfare certainly painted the struggle at hand. Ray also gives us a definitive look at how the South was truly struggling as of 1864 and when 1865 rolls around he writes about Confederate deserters coming across the lines on a daily basis. This information is seldom covered from a soldier's perspective and it is vital for those looking to understand the mentality of an everyday soldier who by 1864 was a proud Veteran of the boys of '61. This book is also an excellent and valuable reference tool for those trying to learn about the Iron Brigade and more importantly the 7th Wisconsin. A true historian could use a greatly documented book such as this in their library. 5 STARS!!!!!