The Common Soldier's Story

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It put into words, hardships, daring, bravery and comradeship that is difficult for those of us who did not live during this time period. The author's descriptions and the reader's ability to bring those words to life were quite enjoyable and informative to me.

5 people found this helpful

A superb memoir...

that transcends a simple War Story. Whether by design or just the luck of a natural raconteur, Private Casler manages to enlighten on almost every aspect of a Civil War Soldiers life. His experiences as an infantry man, Pioneer Corps engineer, forger/raider, prospective cavalrymen and prisoner are both amazing and enlightening. His story is told without rancor and in the spirit of reconciliation. This is not a peroration of an unreconstructed savage, but the story of a noble, devoted and patriotic (Southern) American. The PC history revisionists would do well to listen and learn.

4 people found this helpful

Great book

Regardless of politics, this is a great book and the performance was excellent. Highly recommended to anyone with interest in that time period.

2 people found this helpful

Great Account of the Civil War.

Great Account of the Civil War. Reads like a story and very entertaining! Vero informative to hear it from a soldier's perspective.

2 people found this helpful

Never understood why treason is celebrated.

If the southern army was that great, then why did they loose the war ?

1 person found this helpful

Wonderful and informative

As someone who always has a book on the Civil War going I found this one particularly enjoyable. The narration was excellent it easy to listen to at any speed and the story itself was fascinating. It gives the soldiers a count of the war glossing over a lot of the battles and instead concentrating on the daily life, but not me, and exploits of the common soldier in and around camp, while fighting, and while forging and straggling.

1 person found this helpful

The story of a Johnny Reb

It was so nice to read about the Civil War from the perspective of a private’s experience rather than a general’s memoirs. I almost passed on this one because the Audible Summary said it was written by a commander. Far from it! Confederate Private John O Casler’s account of his service really gives you a taste of the day to day soldier’s life. He recalls the hardships and drudgery, but also the mischief and and adventures he and his comrades had. I have have extensively read about the Civil War and I am certainly glad I read this man’ story!

1 person found this helpful

Broad overview of life of a soldier in gray

An interesting combination of a sweeping general narrative wrapped up with a series of vignettes of scenes and reminiscences outside of the chronology. Many major battles (Antietam, Second Manassas) are brushed over in a few sentences as Casler experiences were varied. I was surprised to the extent of the time spent away from his unit, both AWOL or detached. It’s a solid supplement of first-person experiences and observations to better understand the ACW soldiers life.

Not What I Expected

On e General Jackson died from his wounds, the story started to slow down.

If you like the Civil War area you'll love this.

This book takes you through the day to day war and movements of troops, and individuals through the eye's of someone there. You'll get a much better understanding of just what the area was like. Transportation, distance's and time consuming travel, side events and even down to personal thoughts and outlooks. At the end it even tells you who served and what happened to them. GREAT job and book for people interested in the area.