Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain (1828–1914)

My God that guy can write! I was never more moved than by this short booklet.

I read it (except for Chamberlain's 8 page hand written report at the end) on Tuesday, August 15, 2017. This reading was stimulated by my receipt of '"Bayonet! Forward" My Civil War Reminiscenes', also by Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain. This booklet is actually Chapter 2 of that larger book, without the photographs and the handwritten report and with differences in maps.

If you read the booklet, I suggest that you have a good map(s) available.… (más)

The first chapter is pretty tedious. Once he gets into the details of his role in the Appomattox campaign, he excels. Decent info on the battle experience of the two regiments of his brigade, and of course the V Corps.. I don't believe there are excessive mention of other soldiers except in the chapter about the last review at DC, as stated by one reviewer. This book shows more realism about the actual conditions of combat, than any other book that I ever read. He describes some gory details of battle, like tying off the vein of an injured soldier like it is a common place event, which it may have been.

He does quote Shakespeare, which I really like. Chamberlain is an excellent writer from the late 1800's, and I like his light sarcasm. Actually humorous at times. Not thrilled with the formatting of the book though, no index and not enough maps.… (más)