Rebel Private: Front and Rear--Memoirs of a Confederate Soldier - Softcover

Fletcher, William A.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 145360474X ISBN 13: 9781453604748

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2010

Synopsis

"Rebel Private," William A. Fletcher's account of service in all the major theaters of the Civil War, is one of the most compelling books written about service in the War Between the States. William Fletcher's recollection of life as a Confederate soldier are vivid, and his so great is his ability to command the imagination and give the reader a real you-are-there experience. Fletcher was a very practical soldier, and "Rebel Private" reflects this, exposing readers to the everyday concerns of a Confederate soldier, from the plight of the wounded to taking food from women and children in Union territory and scavenging the dying. William Fletcher even expresses regret that he had refrained from shooting an enemy soldier because he appeared very young and he wonders if it hurt his nation's cause. "Rebel Private" also contains exciting stories about being captured and escaping from a moving prison train. After the war, he heard a North Carolina soldier ask Fletcher's Texas cavalry unit if they had any bacon. When one answered yes, the man said "Grease and slide back into the Union." After thinking about it a while, Fletcher saw the wisdom in that advice and did just that. He became a very successful lumber entrepreneur as well as the author of "Rebel Private," which is highly recommend for students of military or Southern history or anyone who likes true adventure.

About this title

About the Author

William Fletcher isn't different from other soldiers be it outstanding or horrible, but he is the average Confederate soldier from Texas involved in many conflicts. When it comes to soldiering, he is brave and daring but not afraid to admit being scared as he is very honest in his chosen words. The best part of this book isn't the fighting as much as it is the daily life. For the person looking to gain further knowledge, Fletcher writes about his experiences firsthand. Coming up from Texas Fletcher is involved in the Seven Days Battle, 2nd Manassas, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg and Chickamauga campaigns. It was interesting to read about fighting in the 5th Texas, Company F and the thoughts that ran through Fletcher's mind at Gettysburg. The uncertainty, the horrors and the patriotism all wrapped into one was very rewarding to read about. His escape from Union hands was inspiring as he did what he could do to get back to Texas.

From Publishers Weekly

William Fletcher joined the Confederate Army in 1861. He served with the Army of Northern Virginia's elite Texas Brigade until the Battle of Chickamauga. Unable to march because of wounds, he transferred to the cavalry and finished the war with the Texas Rangers, then wrote his memoirs 40 years later. Most of the original copies were destroyed in a fire. The current edition presents unvarnished images of hard marches, short rations and battles in which being wounded could prove worse than being killed. Fletcher describes the horrors of being a Civil War casualty as vividly as any firsthand account from either side. The author emerges from these pages as fighting less for a cause than for his own pride in being a good soldier. His narrative does more than many learned monographs to explain the Confederacy's long endurance against overwhelming odds.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 145360474X
• ISBN 13: 9781453604748
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 128