The Story of a Common Soldier of Army Life in the Civil War, 1861-1865

A veteran’s plain‑spoken chronicle pulls listeners into the daily grind of a Union infantryman from enlistment through the early campaigns of 1862. From the cramped tents of Camp Carrollton to the first clash at Shiloh, the narrative captures the rough camaraderie, the uneasy march of supplies, and the stark reality of a soldier’s first taste of combat.

Interwoven with letters home and candid observations, the account balances vivid battlefield moments with quieter scenes of camp life, medical wards, and long furlough journeys back to Illinois. The author’s reflective tone, shaped by decades of hindsight, offers a grounded perspective on duty, hardship, and the small comforts that kept men moving forward. Listeners will hear the echo of cannon fire alongside the simple, human stories that defined a generation of ordinary men thrust into extraordinary circumstances.