Best Civil War book done by a participant who was NOT a commanding officer

[D1J1]

My choice would be "Company Aytch" by Samuel Watkins. Those of you who know me realize I am no fan of Confederates, but I found this book to be superb. It was a welcome bonus that I was very familiar with much of the area in which he served.

Regards,
Dennis

[Mountain Man]

There are many excellent Civil War books not done by commanders.

[D1J1]

There are many excellent Civil War books not done by commanders.

Title modified, so pick one.

[Mountain Man]

Title modified, so pick one.

I would start with Cornwell's series, followed by Gingrich's and Shaara's. Although they are civilians and wrote fiction, it is actually meticulously researched "faction" based on lengthy and in-depth study.

Then I would proceed to the professional historians such as Foote.

[Massena]

Novels...and I wouldn't waste my money on anything from Gingrich.

Foote was also, by his own admission, a novelist and was not a professional historian.

[Massena]

I thought the OP meant memoirs by participants in the war who were not commanding officers.

That being the case or not, I have found some excellent memoirs done by enlisted men, such as History of the Ninth Massachusetts Battery by Levi Baker and The Cannoneer; Recollections of Service in the Army of the Potomac by Augustus Buell.

The Ninth Massachusetts Battery was the unit committed by the corps artillery chief on 2 July to plug a hole in the Union line until the corps artillery chief could 'build' a line of artillery to fully plug the gap and stop the Confederate attack. The losses of the battery were very heavy, but it continued to serve for the rest of the war. This was the unit's first action.

[Twitter3]

I enjoyed "With the 3rd Wisconsin Badgers, The Living Experience of the Civil War Through the Journals of Van R. Willard". Being from Wisconsin and having relatives who served in Wisconsin units, this book was very interesting to me. Van gives a good account of his experience during the 1862 Valley Campaign.

[Marmat]

My choice would be "Company Aytch" by Samuel Watkins. Those of you who know me realize I am no fan of Confederates, but I found this book to be superb. It was a welcome bonus that I was very familiar with much of the area in which he served.

Regards,
Dennis

Sam Watkins' anecdotes figured prominently in Ken Burns' PBS ACW series as well.

[D1J1]

I would start with Cornwell's series, followed by Gingrich's and Shaara's. Although they are civilians and wrote fiction, it is actually meticulously researched "faction" based on lengthy and in-depth study.

Then I would proceed to the professional historians such as Foote.

Perhaps, but none of those PARTICIPATED in the Civil War, so they remain irrelevant for this thread.

[midaeu]

I would recommend One of Jackson's foot Calvary by Worsham. Another that is done by a member of Grant's staff who was an officer but not in direct charge of troops is Campaigning with Grant by Porter.
I would also second the book by Watson.

[D1J1]

Thanks for some good ideas for future reading!

Regards,
Dennis