Life in the Confederate Army: Being the Observations and Experiences of an Alien in the South During the American Civil War

Watson, William

ISBN 10: 0807120154 / ISBN 13: 9780807120156

Edité par Louisiana State University Press, Baton Rouge, 1995

A propos de cet article

Like new inside and out with only light shelving wear; retains a strong and supple spine for reading. 2nd printing THUS, 1997.

N° de réf. du vendeur ABE-1739583889992

Détails bibliographiques

• Titre: Life in the Confederate Army: Being the Observations and Experiences of an Alien in the South During the American Civil War
• Éditeur: Louisiana State University Press, Baton Rouge
• Date de parution: 1995
• Langue: anglais
• ISBN à 10 chiffres: 0807120154
• ISBN à 13 chiffres: 9780807120156
• Reliure: Soft cover
• État de l'article: Fine

A propos de ce titre

Synopsis

In 1861 William Watson, a native Scot who had established himself as a Louisiana businessman, enlisted in the Confederate forces although still a British subject. In 1887 he penned his memoirs "to give," he said, "a simple narrative of my experience in a war campaign." Far from simple, Watson's work clearly and forcefully describes his experiences with the 3rd Louisiana Infantry in battles at Wilson's Creek and Pea Ridge while depicting the mundane aspects of camp life and providing delightful and colorful character sketches of fellow soldiers and officers, including the legendary General Ben McCulloch.

But Watson offers much more than the story of a soldier's life. He also provides an excellent depiction of southern society undergoing the crisis of secession and the tumultuous early years of the Civil War. Watson's status as an alien made him keenly aware of the culture of his adopted home, and the first twelve chapters of his work stand alone as a superb primary account of antebellum southern society and politics.

Thomas W. Cutrer clearly and succinctly explains the setting of Watson's memoir, thoughtfully detailing the battle history of Watson's regiment and the opinions and ideals of Watson himself.

À propos de l'auteur

William Watson (1826-1906) immigrated from Scotland to the Caribbean Islands in the 1840s. Trained as an shipbuilding engineer, he worked as a civil engineer and occasional captain of sailing vessels. Sometime about 1850 he moved to Louisiana. When the state seceded, Watson enlisted in the Confederate Army, serving as a sergeant in the 3rd Louisiana Infantry. After the war, Watson returned to Scotland, where he wrote Life In The Confederate Army: Being The Observations And Experiences Of An Alien In The South During The American Civil War (1888).

Thomas W. Cutrer is associate professor of American Studies at Arizona State University West. He is the author of Ben McCulloch and the Frontier Military Tradition and Parnassus on the Mississippi: The Southern Review and the Baton Rouge Literary Community, 1935-1942.