Life in the Confederate Army, Being the Observations and Experiences of an Alien in the South During the American Civil War [Paperback]

William Watson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1995

This book is a facsimile reprint and may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 470 pages
• Publisher: Louisiana State Univ Pr (April 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0807120154
• ISBN-13: 978-0807120156
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #718,298 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Tough read, but pays off, April 26, 2005

By 

Samuel J. Williams "Certified Complainer" (Georgia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Life in the Confederate Army: Being the Observations and Experiences of an Alien in the South During the American Civil War (Collector's Library of the Civil War) (Hardcover)

I stumbled across this after devouring Sam Watkins' COMPANY AYTCH and wanting more of the same. While this is a first person account of a Confederate soldier, don't confuse this with the more entertaining COMPANY AYTCH.

Watson was an Irish mechanical engineer who made his living repairing cotton gins prior to the Civil War. He also tends to come across as a bit of a racist and not so subtly hints that African-Americans were incapable of learning his trade. Funny, I wonder what my mechanic, air conditioning repairman, and plumber would think of that. Anywho, luckily his thoughts of African-Americans is limited to a few pages out of this book and the rest is not so offensive.

Unlike COMPANY AYTCH, the writing style here is more formal. Gone is the friendly tone and one of superiority is used. Watson complains throughout the book about everything he encounters (even the boat back to Ireland). By the end of the book, you're glad he goes home and quits writing.

Not to say it's all bad. The encounter he has with General Butler in New Orleans is humorous. His experience at Wiloson's Creek is interesting. And the demeanor of the populace of New Orleans while occupied by Northern troops is a neat insight as well. But, these few pages of detail don't undo the rest of the book.

If you're a re-enactor, forget this one. It won't help your impression. If you're a Civil War biff, there are better books out there. But, if you're looking for an insight of what a visitor to the South thought during that war, this may fill the bill.