On Wheels: And How I Came There [Paperback]

William B. Smith (Author), Stacy Haponik (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 29, 2002

First published in 1892, On Wheels: And How I Came There is Private William B. Smith's firsthand account of his enlistment in the 14th Illinois Volunteer Infantry at age 15, and his adventures-- first as a wide-eyed boy soldier and later, as a wizened veteran and prisoner in Andersonville and other notorious Southern prisons. The stories he tells of his life, friends, and adventures along the way give a revealing peek into that long-ago war. His writing is always upbeat, despite the terrible hardships and physical trauma he suffered, and his dry wit, humor, and unique perspective make this a story you won't want to put down. This isn't a scholarly writing, it is a heartfelt, human story told by someone who experienced one of the most exciting and horrific times in US history and lived to tell the tale. One hundred and ten years after the original publication, and up till now available only as a rare, antiquarian book, On Wheels can once again be read by Civil War enthusiasts and others wanting to expand their knowlege while also reading a fascinating story. Updated and indexed, with added pension records, maps, a timeline, and a glossary, this new printing goes a step further in satisfying the reader as to what became of the boy soldier from that long ago time.

Product Details

• Paperback: 220 pages
• Publisher: Virtualbookworm.com Publishing (June 29, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1589392698
• ISBN-13: 978-1589392694
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,268,567 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars On Wheels-------A True Story of the Civil War, October 13, 2002

By A Customer

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This review is from: On Wheels: And How I Came There (Paperback)

A good read! Originally written in 1892, this book by William B. Smith is his recollection of time spent as a young Union Army Private in the 16th Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He tells of his trips up and down the Missisippi on paddlewheel boats, then as a foot soldier marching through the Southern countryside. Along the way he gives us a taste of what it was like as a soldier in the Civil War.
Whats remarkable about this book is that the author retains his sense of humor throughout--not just the tales of his youthful soldiering, but also as he tells of the terrible hardships he and his comrades faced as prisoners in those horrible Southern Prisons.
The cover picture is the author "on wheels" as a result of injuries sustained at Andersonville and Blackshear prisons.

That this book was rediscovered, researched, updated and edited by a high school student the same age as Smith when he was discharged from Andersonville is extraordinary in itself.