
PREFACE
ILLUSTRATIONS
HOW BATTLES ARE FOUGHT A PREFATORY EXPLANATION FOR THE BENEFIT OF THOSE WHO KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THE MATTER
JOE
AROUND THE CAMP-FIRE
AN UNFINISHED FIGHT
A FAMILY THAT HAD NO LUCK
WILLIAM
A CRADLE CAPTAIN
WHO IS RUSSELL?
A vivid tapestry of voices from the Confederate side brings the Civil War to life in this collection of short, first‑person accounts. Each story is framed as something “told to me,” giving the listener a sense of oral history passed down through generations. The narratives range from gritty battlefield explanations to quiet moments around a camp‑fire, offering a personal glimpse into a world far removed from today’s comforts.
The book weaves tactical details—how armies chose terrain, set pickets, and flanked opponents—with human anecdotes about soldiers, families, and the women who kept morale alive with songs like “Dixie.” Episodes such as a cavalry charge, a midnight crime, and a lone woman’s final word illustrate both the harsh realities of war and the small acts of courage that defined daily life.
Accompanied by period illustrations, the stories balance strategic insight with intimate storytelling, inviting listeners to hear the sounds of marching boots, whispered prayers, and the crackle of firelight. It’s an immersive journey that captures the complexity of conflict while honoring the ordinary people caught in its sweep.
Language
en
Duration
~4 hours (284K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Original publisher
United States: The Macmillan Company, 1898.
Credits
Carlos Colon, David E. Brown, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
Release date
Feb 2, 2022
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1839–1911
A Civil War veteran turned journalist and novelist, he wrote with the eye of someone who had seen American history up close. His work ranges from remembered battlefields to lively fiction and writing for younger readers.
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