Watkins, Sam
Tennessee 1st Infantry Regiment (Fields)
384 pgs.
Among the books about the Civil War Company Aytch stands out for its uniquely personal view of the events as related by a most engaging writer--a man with Twain-like talents who served as a foot soldier for four long years in the Confederate army.
This book is considered to be the best account of the Civil War ever written from the Confederate point of view. It is also the one most frequently cited by historians of the Western campaigns.
Originally published in 1881 as a series of articles in the Columbia, Tennessee, Herald, Sam Watkins's account has long been recognized by historians as one of the most lively and witty accounts of the war. Parallels between this text and The Red Badge of Courage suggest that Stephen Crane was also among Private Watkins's readers.
Sam served in the Tennesee 1st Infantry Regiment (Field's). He faithfully served throughout the duration of the War, participating in many battles. Of the 120 men who enlisted in "Company H" in 1861, Watkins was one of only seven alive when General Joseph E. Johnston's Army of Tennessee surrendered to General William Tecumseh Sherman in North Carolina April, 1865. Of the 1,200 men who fought in the First Tennessee, only 65 were left to be paroled on that day. Soon after the war ended, Watkins began writing his memoir; "Co. Aytch". It was originally serialized in the Columbia, Tennessee Herald newspaper. It was published in a first edition of 2,000 in book form in 1882.