Title: Rebel private, front and rear
First published: 1908
Description: W. A. Fletcher, a soldier in the Fifth Texas Infantry, in the famous Texas Brigade of General John Bell Hood, wrote about his experiences of being a Confederate soldier during the Civil War. Written over 40 years after the Civil War, this is a realistic, sobering and at times humorous story of Fletcher's experiences and thoughts while fighting in Hood's Brigade in the Army of Northern Virginia. Fletcher fought in the famous and bloody battles in the eastern theatre of the Civil War beginning at Second Manassas (Bull Run), Frediericksburg, and the famous and bloody battle of Gettysburg, this is a valuable history of the everyday actions of a Confederate soldier and the insight of battle. . During the Battle of Gettysburg, Private Fletcher admits to being very scared of being shot and killed. At other times, he volunteers for hazardous missions. This is a non-flinching account of the Civil War by an enlisted soldier. Wounded again at Chickamauga, Fletcher was incapacitated for further infantry service and was transferred to Company E, Eighth Texas Cavalry, and served with Terry's Rangers until the end of the war. In north Georgia he participated in a number of thrilling skirmishes with mounted forces of Sherman's command, and in one of these encounters he lost his horse. A short time later, in a daring effort to capture a mount from the Yankees, he was taken prisoner. The story of the forming and execution of his plan to escape by jumping from a moving boxcar is full of action and suspense.

This book was considered lost for over decades after a fire destroyed many copies in Fletcher's home. However, over 40 years later, a copy was found and dontated to the Library of Congress. The book was an authentic publishing event in the literature of the Civil War. Margaret Mitchell even described it as a valuable source for her classic book "Gone With The Wind".

This is an outstanding personal account of everyday life of a soldier in Hood's Brigade and is highly recommended to anyone interested in Hood's Brigade, the Army of Northern Virginia, the battles of the eastern theatre of the Civil War, and the battle of Chickamauga and Terry's Rangers.
Subjects: Biography, Confederate Personal narratives, Confederate States of America, Confederate States of America. Army. Texas Infantry Regiment, 5th, History, Soldiers, Texas infantry, Texas infantry. 5th regt., 1861-1865, United States Civil War, 1861-1865, United states, history, civil war, 1861-1865, personal narratives, confederate, Texas, biography, United states, history, civil war, 1861-1865, regimental histories
Places: Texas, United States
People: W. A. Fletcher (b. 1839)
Time periods: Civil War, 1861-1865