Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-05-17
COMPANY AYTCH.
First Tennessee Regiment, or o
Side show Orthe Big show.

Mr.. Sam R. Watkins, Of Columbia,
Tennessee, is one Of the few surviving
privates who graduated on the South
ern side at the end of the the late war.
The President, the Vice President,
Cabinet offers, Senators, Representa-
tives, Generals, Colonies and Majors
having written histories Of the war,
Private Watkins-no, we should say
Corporal Watkins, for he vas pro-
NOTED late in the war to that honora-
BILE rank-has skipped the Captains,
Lieutenants, Sergeants and higher
corporals, and written a history from
a high private stand point, under the
above title. 1t is a we'll printed book
of236 pages, dedicated to the memory
of his dead comrades Of the Msu-
ray Grays and the First
Tennessee regiment, to which
he belonged, who died in defense Of
Southern homes and liberties and
also to his living comrades. The book
will touch the heart of every old Con
federate soldier. 1t reads more like
q soldiers diary than a memory and
af~ter-thought. Nh. Watkins, in a
plain, vigorous style, has succeeded to
a remarkable degree in reproducing
the impressions, scenes and trials
realized by every man who carried
gun and knapsack or blanket any
length Of time. Even the Northern
soldier, better equipped and protected
against the hazards of the service, viii
recognize the truthfulness Of many
pen pictures. Mr.. Watkins enlisted
when tEenty-one years old. He tells
Us that be was then unmarried, but it
seems that the girl he left behind
him was a true type Of South
ern womanhOod, and waited par
ticularly for Sammy to come
marching home. He says: Now Ihave
a house full of young rebels" cluster.
ing around my knees and humping
against my elbow while l write these
"reminiscences Of the War of SECESSION
Rebellions, States Right, Slavery, or
our Rights in the Territories, or by
whatever name it may be called" He
went to Virginia with his regiment
and afterwards was with the Army of
Tennessee in all its great campaigns
and suferings. He was 10 nearly all
the great battles Of the West. and was
surrendered with Johnston's army at
Greensboro N. C. The regiment
then numbered sixty-fve all told,
out Of 1900 who had been
on the rolls, a tragic and pitiful story
of death and suffering. The book
abouuds with pathos, with philoso-
phical reflections and quaint remarks,
such as often enlivened the camp
fires. Private Watkins seems to have
had a poor opinion of JEFF Davis and
Bragg and other leaders from the
start, and his caustic criticisms crop.
out on nearly every page. He
takes of rank and red tape in a
very happy style, and his book is re
lieved and enlivened by peculiar humor
and quick wit acquired only 10 camp
Some passages are touchingly pathetic,
others are wildly descriptive, many
are we'll connected narratives that
read like pages from Dickens or
Resde. A vein Of sarcasm, humor, or
quiet common sense philosophy is
prominent in every chapter. Mr..
Watkins saw much Of the war, and
the writer Of this who saw something
Of it and was in many Of the same
tight places, can testify that no man
could draw such pictures aud write
such a book who did not actually have
the experiences. We do not know
Mr.. Watkins, but we respect him for
his sentiments, for his vindieation Of
the old webb foot infantry to which
we belonged, and admire the
unique and admirably painted view be
presents of the inside life, as seen,
felt and acted in the Confederate
army. Every old soldier Of the
Southern army should have a copy, it
will revive memories tender and thrill
ing, pleasant and sad. Those who
have children should commit it to
them, that they may know something
Of what their fathers and kindred
passed through. The price Of the
book h 81 ., and it can be had b.
addressing the author at Columbia,
Tenn. He IS cripple nor, has 4
large family, and deserves 70 be liber
ally ~pstronized.
M. Vim. Ayerill, Of New York
proposes 70 replace the awful solitude
around the North Pole upon q system
set forth as follows:
Lat 4ha Unfto1 49,