Soldiers Blue & Gray

by James I. Robertson Jr.

Uses letters and reminiscences by Union and Confederate soldiers to depict what it was like to fight in the Civil War

Genres: Civil War, History, American Civil War, American History, Nonfiction, Historical, War

278 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

James I. Robertson Jr. is an Alumni Distinguished Professor of History at Virginia Tech. He published the definitive adult biography of Stonewall Jackson, Stonewall Jackson: The Man, the Soldier, the Legend, and also wrote Standing Like a Stone Wall for young adults. He lives in Blacksburg, Virginia.

Reviews

[Christopher Moore · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book gives a good description of military life on both sides of the war, but I was never a big fan of military tactical history, that's why I only gave it a 2/5 rating.

[Chloe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this for a class, and enjoyed it much more than I anticipated. I liked how Robertson draws attention to how the Civil War, much like most every war, is fought by the poor for the rich (for example, slaveowners were exempt from the Confederate draft).

[Bradley Brill · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of interesting information, but fell short of giving me a sense of why young me on both sides of the Civil War enlisted and endured the horrors of the period.

[Dad · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tremendously fun read on the life of the common soldier. It does not reach the level of Bell Wiley's The Life of Billy Yank or The Life of Johnny Reb, but is great reading.

[Chuck Wallace]

interesting

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Bud" Robertson has been a friend for more than 30 years, so, yes, I have a certain bias. This book brings the war down to the level of the foot soldier on both sides. For those not interested in tactics of specific battles, and for those not familiar with the war, the book explores the humanity of those who fought on the front lines. One of my favorite books by Robertson.