The salary of a private in the army is $12; monthly and fed uniformed. I know it is a hard life; but anything for my Native Land; wrote William T. Shepherd; a Wisconsin native enlisted in Battery B of the First Illinois Light Artillery. During his three years in the Western theater; Shepherd served as both an artilleryman and a clerk in several ordnance offices; all the while carefully recording his experiences and observations in letters to his family.A keen chronicler of camp life and the vicissitudes of soldiering; Shepherd wrote extremely detailed and enlightening battle accounts. He saw significant action at Fredericktown; Belmont; Forts Henry and Donelson; and Shiloh; with his battery playing a critical role in several of these engagements. In the fall of 1862; he became an ordnance clerk. From a unique vantage point rarely known by historians; he described the logistical apparatus supporting the Union advance against Vicksburg and later across Tennessee.In his new capacity as a rear-area soldier; Shepherd had the opportunity to interact with local civilians. He regularly attended civilian churches; had black servants and housekeepers and witnessed colored balls; met Southerners on the street on a daily basis; and boarded in a Southern home. Because of these experiences; Shepherd came to view the South s citizens as more than battlefield abstractions; and his understanding of the occupied South grew increasingly nuanced.Highly educated compared with many other soldiers of his rank; Shepherd expresses the life of the common combatant in an unusually articulate way. To Rescue My Native Land traces the evolution of a young recruit to veteran artilleryman and administrative operative and provides a unique look at the behind-the-scenes operations of several of the Civil War s most important engagements."
#297941 in Books 1998-01-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.00 x 6.00 x .75l; #File Name: 1570720711249 pages
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Interesting Story Of Forgotten War In KentuckyBy 15th NW ArkansasJack May's War is certainly an interesting book but it is not meant to be a detailed study of battles and campaigns. The book covers the entire war and no battle is given more than a few pages. On occasion Mr. Perry will not give details on an engagement saying (for example)"the details are familiar to most Kentuckians"; leaving non-Kentuckians wanting more information. Andrew Jackson May himself is little remembered but deserves to have his story told. However; he comes off as a little one-dimensional. Mr. Perry clearly admires Jack May greatly and he comes off as a near saint. The only other criticism I would have is the author's description of the Saltville Massacre. He claims at least 53 black soldiers were murdered and possibly 100. This is supported by Thomas Mays' book on the battle; but a more reliable and likely story is found in William Marvel's book. Mr. Perry admits Marvel's book is the best on the subject but doesn't delve into the controversy. Still; this is an absorbing book on the forgotten war in KY; TN; and VA fought by brave men like Jack May.
