Or, a side show of the big show, often heralded as one of the best primary sources about the common soldiers civil war. As enduring a piece of civil war literature as company aytch has been, though, it is not without its limitations. Or, a side show of the big show, often heralded as one of the best primary sources about the common soldiers civil war experience. Western north carolina in the civil war civil war america. Samuel rush watkins was a private in the confederate army. Company aytch history 101 company aytch is a book that depicts the idealistic memory of a young confederate of the civil war named sam watkins. Aytch 1882, which recounts his life as a soldier in the first tennessee. Samuel sam rush watkins june 26, 1839 july 20, 1901 was a noted confederate soldier during the american civil war. A classic memoir of the civil war watkins, samuel r. I am not familiar with any civil war personality more worthy of respect for his commitment to his band of brothers and the civilians who depended upon them than sam watkins. A new edition introduced and annotated by philip leigh by watkins, sam, leigh, philip and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Sam watkins, which will be released by westholme publishing next spring entitled co.
Aytch is the work of a natural storyteller who balances the horror of war with an irrepressible sense of humor and a sharp eye for the lighter side of battle. Watkins 1839 1901 samuel sam rush watkins june 26, 1839 july 20, 1901 was a noted confederate soldier during the american civil war. Having a yankee reader for this southerners story, however, really detracted from the listening experience. Sam watkins and his stake in slavery random thoughts on.
I do not pretend to write the history of the war, he wrote. Aytch as in h, which appeared after the war and offers an unparalleled look at the life of a rankandfile southern soldier. Sam never considered himself a hero, just a common webfoot. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3 months new customers receive 15% off your. Aytch is one of the finest military memories ever written. Samuel sam rush watkins 18391901 was a confederate soldier during the american civil war. Samuel watkins faithfully served throughout the duration of the civil war. It is filled with tales of marches, commanders, yankee enemies, victories, and defeats. Sam watkins did not intend to write a detailed history of the war, but rather to write of his personal. This remarkable account is a classic civil war memoir of a humble private soldier fighting in the american civil war which balances the horror of war with a sense of humor at the lighter side of battle. Apr 14, 2019 samuel sam rush watkins june 26, 1839 july 20, 1901 was a noted confederate soldier during the american civil war. Sam watkins civil war history discussion american civil. He served as a private, and this book is his recollections of various events in the civil war as they happened to him.
He fought on the frontline for all four years and survived. Aytch is the work of a natural storyteller who balances the horror of war with an irrepressible sense of humor and a sharp eye for. Aytch is the work of a natural storyteller who balances the horror of war with his irrepressible sense of humor and his sharp eye for the lighter side of battle. A private in company h, first tennessee infantry, sam r. The diary of sam watkins, a confederate soldier nashville. This was written about twenty years after the american civil war by a confederate soldier, sam watkins. Or, a side show of the big show, often heralded as one of the best primary sources about the common soldiers civil war experience sam s writing style is quite engaging and skillfully captures the pride, misery. Excerpts will be included in my civil war unit next year. Watkins came from a prosperous family and had some formal education. Watkins in 188182 in series form in his hometown newspaper and soon thereafter in book form.
Some historians articulate towards watkins having insufficiency of precise facts and sometimes alteration or exaggeration on certain issues. The best civil war books of all time analysis civil war. I once taught a class on humor, and used excerpts as an example of. Shane, as watkins states several times, his book isnt a history, but a memoir written many years after the event. Watkins is today one of the most wellknown common soldiers in civil war history. He refers to himself as a high private and terms his comrades webfoots for all the marching they did. Jun 29, 2015 this book was originally published by sam r. The paperback of the company aytch or a side show of the big show. Sam watkins fought four years in the civil war battles in four states and was only one of seven that survived the war from this regiment. It is a testament to one mans enduring humanity, courage, and wisdom in the midst of death and destruction. Watkins was a private who joined the tennessee army and with whom he participated in every battle and skirmish that the regiment was involved. A confederate memoir of the civil war ebook by sam.
In terms of the scope of the civil war, sam watkins is a nobody and he delights in his low station. He is preparing an illustrated and annotated version of the memoirs of confederate pvt. Sam watkins co aytch performed by thomas cartwright. A confederate memoir of the civil war company aytch or a side show of the big show. It has become a standard read for those seeking insight on how civil war soldiers especially confederate soldiers experienced the war.
Watkins of columbia, tennessee a classic civil war memoir, co. As watkins tells the reader repeatedly, he isnt trying to write a history, as there have been plenty of those already. Larry, i liked your comment about it being required reading for all 16 year olds. This is the perfect civil war book and will satisfy the greenest novice or the most accomplished. Today, he is best known for his enduring memoir, co. Sam watkinsconfederate soldier from tennessee civil war. Despite his low rank, watkins has found immortality through his 1882 memoir company aytch. Civil war historian thomas cartwright portrays the books author, sam watkins. Watkins continually reminds readers that his memoir is not history. Chicago turabian humanities citation style guide watkins, samuel r and ruth. He fought through the entire civil war and saw action in many battles. The lively terminology that sam watkins uses makes the stories of ordinary soldiers humorous and moving at times while still incorporating the realities from a bloody war.
Its short for a civil war book but packs an enormous punch. Aytch, maury grays, first tennessee regiment by samuel r. Most of the book, though, is much more somber, told with a modern. Watkins was one of those rare individuals who could write exactly the way he talked, and mcallister wisely allows sam to do his own talking by including only his additions and revisions. Aytch, maury grays, first tennessee regiment of the big.
Originally, these memoirs were published serially in the columbia herald in 18811882. My first book was released by westholme publishing back in may 20. Watkins was a private in company h, first tennessee regiment of the confederate army. Sam watkins samuel sam rush watkins june 26, 1839 july 20, 1901 was a noted confederate soldier during the american civil war. It is the first hand account of a confederate private from columbia, tennessee fighting in some of the bloodiest battles and skirmishes of the war.
H, 1st tennessee infantry, through shiloh and chickamauga, most poignant is his determination to cut through the romanticization of his fellow 1880s memoirists and get the real war the drilling, killing, and shootinginto the books. Chicago turabian author date citation style guide watkins, samuel r and ruth. However, in ric and ken burnss groundbreaking 1990 pbs documentary, the civil war, watkinss memoir was quoted frequently and as a result the book has become quite popular. Or, a side show of the big show, often heralded as one of the best primary sources. Samuel sam rush watkins june 26, 1839 july 20, 1902 was a noted confederate soldier during the american civil war. But what makes sam watkins account of his time as a private in co. He served as a private in company h, 1st tennessee infantry, csa, during the civil war, fighting in most of the large battles of the western theater. Both general readers and historians can enjoy sam s story, a better book, as margret mitchell claimed. The best civil war books of all time analysis civil. Despite being written only 15 years after wars end, his prose is concise and poignent without being overwrought like some of his contemporaries. In framing his war narrative, watkins was careful to exclude any significant discussion of the wars causes and its continuing effects on the middle tennessee society in which he lived. Still, beyond a small circle of civil war devotees, sam watkins was.
June 26, 1839 july 20, 1901 was an american writer and humorist. Sam watkins, a civil war soldier, put together an incredible piece of literature dealing with his time as an infantry soldier in the civil war. He fought through the entire civil war and saw action in many major battles. No one can deny it was about slavery after reading this book. Johnstons army of tennessee surrendered to general william tecumseh sherman in north carolina in april 1865. Sam watkins company aytch american civil war forums. Remembering sam watkins sons of confederate veterans. I have wanted to read this book since sam watkins was so heavily quoted in ken burns civil war documentary. A civil war narrative is an account of the american civil war told by a common soldier, sam r. Watkins, who was born near columbia, tennessee, in 1839, enlisted in company h of the first tennessee infantry confederate in the spring of 1861.
The book earns a 5, but i only gave the reader 3 simply because of his obviously yankee twang. For example, in the book he wrote, well, on the fatal morning of june 27th, the sun rose clear. The music on the record was written and performed by michael holloway. Watkins 2003, paperback at the best online prices at ebay. When reading his book, you are transported to the front porch on a warm southern evening, with the family and friends collected to hear papa sam tell another one of his stories from the war. Aytch was published in book form as a first edition of 2,000 in 1882. Aytch, which recounts his life as a soldier in the confederate states army.
It is an illustrated and annotated version of the memoirs of confederate private sam watkins, entitled co. But we soon found out that the glory of war was at home among the ladies and not upon the field of blood and carnage of death, where our comrades were mutilated and torn by shot and shell. Sam watkins of the maury greys saw a lot of fightin and dyin while serving as part of company h in the army of tennessee. Both general readers and historians can enjoy sam s story, a better book, as margret mitchell. Or, a side show of the big show, often heralded as one of the best primary sources about the common soldiers civil war experiencesams writing style is quite engaging and skillfully captures the pride, misery. Of the 120 men who enlisted in company h in 1861, sam watkins was one of only seven alive when general joseph e. Samuel rush sam watkins 18391901 find a grave memorial. Here is my new unknown series episode of covering sam watkins, a confederate soldier who was everywhere during the civil war. His book should be read aloud as it is written in a conversational style that has to be pure sam watkins. A new edition introduced and annotated by philip leigh by watkins, sam, leigh, philip and a great selection of related books. Among civil war memoirs, it stands as a living testament to one mans enduring humanity, courage, and wisdom in the midst of death and destruction. Among the plethora of books about the civil war, company aytch stands out for its uniquely. Samuel rush sam watkins june 26, 1839 july 20, 1901 was an american writer and humorist. Watkins is perhaps the quintessential civil war memoir certainly of the confederate side by the enlisted combat soldier.
Aytch, maury grays, first tennessee regiment of the. He experienced the grit of battle at its most basic level. Mar 15, 20 phil leigh is an armchair civil war enthusiast and president of a market research company. Aytch has long been regarded as one of the finest memoirs written by a common soldier of the american civil war. Still, beyond a small circle of civil war devotees, sam watkins was unknown until about 20 years ago, when ken burnss groundbreaking civil war series made him famous. A classic memoir of the civil war the heart of confederate appalachia.