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

"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.