A southern boy in blue
Subtitle: the memoir of Marcus Woodcock, 9th Kentucky Infantry (U.S.A.)
By: edited by Kenneth W. Noe.
Contributors: Noe, Kenneth W., 1957-
Edition: 1st ed.
Series: Voices of the Civil War; Voices of the Civil War series.
Publisher: University of Tennessee Press
Published: 1996
Place of publication: Knoxville
Language: eng
Number of pages: 348
Subjects: Woodcock, Marcus, b. 1842.; United States. Army. Kentucky Infantry Regiment, 9th (1861-1864); Soldiers -- Tennessee -- Biography.; United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Personal narratives.; Tennessee -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865.
Description: A Southern Boy in Blue is Woodcock's own account of his experiences during the war. After joining the 9th Kentucky Infantry, Woodcock barely missed the battle of Shiloh - a bout of measles kept him from the front lines - but he went on to see action at Stones River, Chickamauga, and Missionary Ridge. He also participated in the Atlanta campaign and the siege of Corinth and was among the reserves at the battle of Perryville. In three years he rose from the rank of private to that of first lieutenant.

Since Woodcock wrote his memoir in 1865 (instead of much later as many veterans did), his descriptions of battles, camp life, and period politics have a special vividness. Woodcock's account is also significant in showing how his views and opinions of the war charged over time. Initially opposed to the use of black troops and to Lincoln's reelection, he eventually converted to both positions and describes the process by which he transformed his thinking.

. Woodcock's memoir has been meticulously annotated by Kenneth Noe, who also provides an introduction that places Woodcock's experiences in historical context and describes his postwar career as a prominent Tennessee legislator, attorney, business administrator, and Baptist layman. The book is not only a compelling personal account but an important addition to the literature on Southern Unionism.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. [333]-336) and index.
Table of contents: title: I would enlist in the U.S. armies; title: An attack of measles; title: Between the river and Corinth; title: In the direction of Perryville; title: The memorable Battle of Stone's River; title: Our camp at Murfreesboro; title: To the other side of the Tennessee River; title: The hills and thick forests of Chickamauga; title: The storming of Mission Ridge was a fearful undertaking; title: The famous city of Knoxville; title: Our destination was Atlanta.