Sam Watkins Samuel “ Sam ” Rush Watkins ( June 26 , 1839 – July 20 , 1901 ) was a noted Confederate soldier during the American Civil War . He is known today for his memoir " Company Aytch : Or , a Side Show of the Big Show " , often heralded as one of the best primary sources about the common soldier ' s Civil War experience . Biography . Watkins was born on June 26 , 1839 near Columbia , Maury County , Tennessee , and received his formal education at Jackson College in Columbia . He originally enlisted in the “ Bigby Greys ” of the 3rd Tennessee Infantry in Mount Pleasant , Tennessee , but transferred shortly thereafter to the First Tennessee Infantry , Company H ( the “ Maury Greys ” ) in the spring of 1861 . Watkins faithfully served throughout the duration of the War , participating in the battles of Cheat Mountain , Shiloh , Corinth , Perryville , Murfreesboro ( Stones River ) , Shelbyville , Chattanooga , Chickamauga , Missionary Ridge , Resaca , Adairsville , Kennesaw Mountain ( Cheatham Hill ) , New Hope Church , Zion Church , Kingston , Cassville , Atlanta , Jonesboro , Franklin , and Nashville . Of the 120 men who enlisted in “ Company H ” in 1861 , Sam Watkins was one of only seven alive when General Joseph E . Johnston ’ s Army of Tennessee surrendered to General William Tecumseh Sherman in North Carolina April , 1865 . Of the 3 , 200 men ( 1 , 250 when the regiment was first raised , plus a further 1 , 950 recruited or conscripted between then and then end of the war ) who fought in the First Tennessee , only 65 were left to be paroled on that day . Soon after the war ended , Watkins began writing his memoir , entitled " Company Aytch : Or , a Side Show of the Big Show " His memoir is recognized around the world and is sometimes used for teaching purposes by teachers . This helps students learn what life was like during the Civil War . It was originally serialized in the Columbia , Tennessee Herald newspaper . “ Co . Aytch ” was published in a first edition of 2 , 000 in book form in 1882 . “ Co . Aytch ” is heralded by many historians as one of the best war memoirs written by a common soldier of the field . Sam ’ s writing style is quite engaging and skillfully captures the pride , misery , glory , and horror experienced by the common foot soldier . Watkins is often featured and quoted in Ken Burns ’ 1990 documentary titled " The Civil War " . Watkins died on July 20 , 1901 at the age of 62 in his home in the Ashwood Community . He was buried with full military honors by the members of the Leonidas Polk Bivouac , United Confederate Veterans , in the cemetery of the Zion Presbyterian Church near Mount Pleasant , Tennessee . Samuel ' s brother , David Watkins , served in the First Tennessee Cavalry , commanded by ( among others ) Colonel J . H . Lewis . In popular culture . The song " Kennesaw Line " by Don Oja - Dunaway , tells a heart - breaking vignette of the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain on the morning of June 27 , from the perspective of Sam Watkins , with part of the lyrics directly paraphrasing his description from the book " Company Aytch " ( see the section entitled " Dead Angle , on the Kennesaw Line " ) . The best - known version of this song is sung by Claire Lynch on the album " Lines & Traces " by the Front Porch String Band .