Customer Reviews

The story of a common soldier of army life in the Civil War, 1861-1865 (Collector's library of the Civil War)

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Quite by accident I stumbled onto this accounting of a young man's experience in the western theater of the American Civil War. After having read many versions of the war by various accomplished authors and researchers, I thoroughly enjoyed reading Stillwell's unassuming story of how he saw and experienced the Civil War. Stillwell tells us the story of where he came from in Otterville, Illinois, and how he came to leave his family's farm to enlist in January 1862. I basked in his descriptive narratives, written in the vernacular of the times. He makes no proud assumptions regarding his involvement in any of the battles, but gives us a common soldier's view as he, and many others, must have seen it. he makes a few disparaging remarks about his commanders, and officers in general, which I found honest, and entertaining. This is a good book that Civil War enthusiasts should really enjoy. An autographed first edition adorns my shelf at home, and I will not let it out of my sight.

This is a classic autobiography of an actual infantry soldier, his experiences and sage reflections over the full term of the Civil War in the Western Front in the West Tennessee Army. His accounts are bona-fide first hand remembrances of the day-to-day soldiers life. He was with General Prentiss at Shiloh/Pittsburgh Landing, which he survived and escaped capture. His recollections are some of the most insightful and represent the truer existence of a Billy Yank in the ranks. One of the best and most honestly recollected first hand accounts of the Civil War, ever written.

A common soldier shares personal experiences in the civil war tells his story with great eye for detail for the times. A terrific walk thru time with mid 19th c. color, smells, language,hardships, mannerisms, food, weather, coming to full life in the readers mind. I recommend this book for all history buffs and civil war enthusiasts, especially those searching for personal authenticity and articulateness.

As a life long history geek, I've read a lot of war histories. Having served in the military myself, and experienced the day-to-day life of an enlisted man in time of war, and knowing that such a life lacks the glamour of the official story as written by Generals, Admirals, and unit commanders, I've developed a fondness for the memoirs written in the ranks.

This book is a real jewel, is informative and entertaining. Stillwell chronicles his experience in the Civil War from his pre-enlistment to his return home after the war. He relates the trials and hardships, the tedium and fear experienced by every soldier in time of war. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the Civil War.

Once, way back in the 80s, I was browsing through the local library when I stumbled onto this faded-cover book by Leander Stillwell. He had written it long after the smoke and the dust had settled over those old Civil War battlefields. I admired his grit and his humility. It is a perfectly crafted story of his life during the war. I was so mesmerized by his story that I selected it as my project for a senior research paper. I researched and found even more information than what is available in this book. Mr. Stillwell was a great American who became a circuit judge, who died in that horrible heat wave of 1936 in Erie, Kansas.

It is with great pleasure I review this book as being about the best account of a common soldier that I have ever read. I truly wish the author were still alive so I could shake his hand. Being a combat vet from Vietnam I tend to get tired of reading stuff written by people who have no idea. This book goes far beyond my expectations in presenting an honest account of all that went on his area. He didn't try to pretend he knew everything that happened. He followed the common soldiers understanding of things as "I was told to climb this hill and shoot anyone I saw on the other side." He didn't waste words with uncalled for embellishment. He just told a darn good story about a bleak time in the American past.

Stillwell joined the 61st Illinois Infantry in Dec 1861 and served till the end of the war, reaching the rank of 1st LT. His unit spent most of the war in garrison duties and in backwater areas, for which he expresses a certain amount of regret, but as soldiers they simply go where they are told.

After a stint at the county fairgrounds in NW IL, the unit moved to Benton Barracks and then joined Prentiss' Division a week before Shiloh. They got roughed up there, and Stillwell comments on the poor handling of his unit during that first morning. During the Corinth campaign they are stationed near Owl Creek, then moved to Bolivar TN at the end of May, garrisoning the railroad. Not much happens there till Dec when they move to Jackson TN for a brief encounter with Forrest's Cav . Returning shortly afterwards to Bolivar, they don't move again till late May 1863 where they join Grant outside of Vicksburg, holding various positions along the Mechanicsburg corridor and Big Black River. By July they moved to Helena AR, then on to Little Rock and remain in AR in the various campaigns of Gen Steele. Late in the year the unit veteranizes and returns to IL for a furlough in the fall. They move over to MO to chase Price's raiders about, and then re-inforce Thomas at Nashville, do some fighting around Murfreesboro in Dec then move over to garrison Franklin for the remainder of the war.

Stillwell is very reflective and tells some nice anecdotes in a direct and honest way. This is an unedited version, and I do miss the type of editing that fact checks statements when possible, as this always helps in confirming the veracity of the author. Patiruclarly good story about visiting Gen Sherman about 1883, and lamenting that his unit missed out on the Atlanta Savannah and Carolinas campaigns.

This is a reminiscence written, IINM about 1900 or 1910 after Stillwell retired from public life as a KS legislator and judge.

This first person account is moving, thought-provoking, and extremely well written. Stillwell is honest about his experiences, and seems well grounded in common sense. Very enjoyable.

I have the kindle edition, have just ordered a hard cover as a gift. This is a facinating story of the "adventures" of a young man during the Civil War. It is not so much of the battle of war but the day to day life that one was experiencing. A wonderful look back into our history, of our culture and shaping of a "common soldier". Thank you, Mr. Stillwell.

the book was new, in excellent condition. arrived just in time for christmas gift
as shown in order.I was very pleased with the order and promptness of delivery