NF New Edited version..Co. "Aytch"

[Rusk County Avengers]

I've been re-reading another edition of Company Aytch off an on for a couple weeks along with several other books, and might try to finish it an write a Book Review this week. I am almost done after all.

That being said, and I'm liable to be tarred and feathered for saying it, this is not one of my favorite veteran written memoirs....

In fact, its probably my least favorite, and I think it very unfortunate its the one all others are seemingly measured by it. I've no idea of his service record, (this stuff of him deserting and so on is news to me), but there are so many inaccuracies, and so much obvious "homespun" embellishing to make it almost unreadable to me.

This opinion is probably born from reading around a hundred or so Confederate vet. memoirs before I ever got to Company Aytch, and I've found memoirs incredibly insightful, and many incredibly accurate to the record of the war with so much to add. Yet veteran memoirs are often derided as worthless for learning about the war, and I highly suspect that academic view came into being because of this embellishing liar from h*** named Sam Watkins, and his "version" of events being so prominent.

But the book does have its moments, and gives the best picture of the rank and file's feelings I know of about Bragg, Polk, and Johnston, so it has that little bit of redemption. Even if Watkins would have you think Bragg executed ten men before breakfast every day!

Reaction to my opinion may determine whether I write my review of the book. After all I do realize how beloved Sam Watkins and wouldn't want to stir up a hornet's nest more than I may have here....

 

[Rhea Cole]

I've been re-reading another edition of Company Aytch off an on for a couple weeks along with several other books, and might try to finish it an write a Book Review this week. I am almost done after all.

That being said, and I'm liable to be tarred and feathered for saying it, this is not one of my favorite veteran written memoirs....

In fact, its probably my least favorite, and I think it very unfortunate its the one all others are seemingly measured by it. I've no idea of his service record, (this stuff of him deserting and so on is news to me), but there are so many inaccuracies, and so much obvious "homespun" embellishing to make it almost unreadable to me.

This opinion is probably born from reading around a hundred or so Confederate vet. memoirs before I ever got to Company Aytch, and I've found memoirs incredibly insightful, and many incredibly accurate to the record of the war with so much to add. Yet veteran memoirs are often derided as worthless for learning about the war, and I highly suspect that academic view came into being because of this embellishing liar from h*** named Sam Watkins, and his "version" of events being so prominent.

But the book does have its moments, and gives the best picture of the rank and file's feelings I know of about Bragg, Polk, and Johnston, so it has that little bit of redemption. Even if Watkins would have you think Bragg executed ten men before breakfast every day!

Reaction to my opinion may determine whether I write my review of the book. After all I do realize how beloved Sam Watkins and wouldn't want to stir up a hornet's nest more than I may have here....

Please go ahead, an honest critique is always welcome. Hyperbole is part of Watkins' appeal because he wrote in his own voice. I am serious when I say that reading Watkins out loud is the best way to evaluate his work. I vividly recall hearing the dads standing around the campfire at Boy Scout events talking about WWII & Korea. Sam would have been perfectly comfortable joining in. I think it makes no sense to criticize Watkins writing for being something it is not.

My personal experience is that war stories are not about accurate historical details. The great gaping silences between sentences are often the most articulate expressions in anecdotes.

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

Please go ahead, an honest critique is always welcome. Hyperbole is part of Watkins' appeal because he wrote in his own voice. I am serious when I say that reading Watkins out loud is the best way to evaluate his work. I vividly recall hearing the dads standing around the campfire at Boy Scout events talking about WWII & Korea. Sam would have been perfectly comfortable joining in. I think it makes no sense to criticize Watkins writing for being something it is not.

My personal experience is that war stories are not about accurate historical details. The great gaping silences between sentences are often the most articulate expressions in anecdotes.

Oh I personally know a dozen people that would scalp, shoot, or otherwise maim me for saying what I said on Sam Watkins work.

Maybe not on this site, but in person. I've had to keep my mouth shut many times when I heard conversations turn to the "one and only" Confederate soldier's memoir in existence.