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Four Years in the Stonewall Brigade: “Your style is clear and entertaining. It will do all the old boys of both sides good to read it.” — J. G. Winne, late 16th New York Horse Artillery.
“Look yonder! There is Jackson and his brigade standing like a stone wall. Let us determine to die here and we will conquer. Rally behind them!” With these historic words Gen. B. E. Bee of the Confederates States Army inspired the famous nickname for Gen. T. J. Jackson, and his brigade, at the First Battle of Bull Stonewall. Three months earlier the 2d, 4th, 5th and 27th Virginia Infantry Regiments had been brigaded together with the 33rd, in whose “A” Company John O. Casler was serving as a Private. However, their reputation came at a great if there was an onerous or dangerous duty, Jackson would send in his old brigade lest he be thought of as favouring them. Drawn from his diary at the time, Casler recounts his experiences, from marches and looting to nail-biting encounters and the monotony of life as a prisoner of war. Instead of a history of the war, Four Years in the Stonewall Brigade is an intimate account of men in war, bringing to light the challenges that troops faced on a daily basis. Praise for Four Years in the Stonewall Brigade “This is to certify that John O. Casler belonged to Company A, 33d Virginian Infantry, Stonewall Brigade. John was a good soldier, always ready and willing to perform any duty assigned him.” W. H. Powell, Captain Company A, 33d Virginian Infantry, Stonewall Brigade. “…as illustrating the daily life of a soldier in the ranks it is one of the very best publications I have read. I found it a vivid reminder of the days gone by…” E. M. Schutte, late Sergeant Company C, 13th Massachusetts. Author John O. Casler (1838-1926) was an American soldier. Born in Frederick County, Virginia, he had left the family home aged twenty-one. When war was imminent, he returned and enlisted in the Confederate States Army in June 1861, later emigrating to Sherman, Texas.
356 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1893
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
January 5, 2018
This is a very readable memoir of John Casler. He was a foot soldier, a pioneer (engineer), a part time deserter and he longed to be in the cavalry. He finally got his wish to join the cavalry and was soon captured and ended the Civil War in a POW camp. I've heard it said that "Nostalgia is a dirty liar that insists things were better than they seemed." If that is true, Casler doesn't seem overly nostalgic. His time in the Stonewall brigade was pretty miserable.
Insights gleaned from reading this book was that the infantry was a hellaciously difficult life; falling asleep on picket duty was a death sentence; and everyone longed to be in the cavalry. In fact, many who deserted did so just to join the cavalry or one of the many partisan bands that harassed the Union rear at all times. Others did so to visit home which was often in areas occupied by Union troops. Casler said that men from the part of Virginia where he lived weren’t used to so much walking. That is an interesting comment from a member of Stonewall’s vaunted foot cavalry.
There are some funny anecdotes in this book. I like the story about how protocol became a little lax by the wars end. At first, pickets were supposed to stand at their post. As the war progressed and men and horseflesh were pushed to their limits, men began to sit during picket duty. Casler tells a humorous story about a sentry sitting down with his rifle in pieces when and an officer walks upon him and asked him what he was doing.
“Oh,” said the soldier, “I am sort of a sentinel.”
“Well,” said the officer, “don’t you know it is against orders to sit down on your post while on duty, much less to take your guns to pieces in that manner?”
“That used to be the law in the commencement of the war,” replied the sentinel, “but it’s sort o’ played out now.”
“Yes, but I want you to understand that I am officer of the day, going on my rounds.”
“Are you?” replied the sentinel. “Well just hold on ‘till I get this old gun together and I’ll give you a sort o’ salute.”
Make no mistake; Casler is full of pride. However, if he had to do it all over again, I’ll bet you my entire 401K that he’d of joined the cavalry.
Insights gleaned from reading this book was that the infantry was a hellaciously difficult life; falling asleep on picket duty was a death sentence; and everyone longed to be in the cavalry. In fact, many who deserted did so just to join the cavalry or one of the many partisan bands that harassed the Union rear at all times. Others did so to visit home which was often in areas occupied by Union troops. Casler said that men from the part of Virginia where he lived weren’t used to so much walking. That is an interesting comment from a member of Stonewall’s vaunted foot cavalry.
There are some funny anecdotes in this book. I like the story about how protocol became a little lax by the wars end. At first, pickets were supposed to stand at their post. As the war progressed and men and horseflesh were pushed to their limits, men began to sit during picket duty. Casler tells a humorous story about a sentry sitting down with his rifle in pieces when and an officer walks upon him and asked him what he was doing.
“Oh,” said the soldier, “I am sort of a sentinel.”
“Well,” said the officer, “don’t you know it is against orders to sit down on your post while on duty, much less to take your guns to pieces in that manner?”
“That used to be the law in the commencement of the war,” replied the sentinel, “but it’s sort o’ played out now.”
“Yes, but I want you to understand that I am officer of the day, going on my rounds.”
“Are you?” replied the sentinel. “Well just hold on ‘till I get this old gun together and I’ll give you a sort o’ salute.”
Make no mistake; Casler is full of pride. However, if he had to do it all over again, I’ll bet you my entire 401K that he’d of joined the cavalry.
January 31, 2017
This is the dairy and recollections of a one John Overton Casler. It is a great story of the time he spent in the Confederate uniform. The pride he had for serving under Jackson is emblematic. Jackson was a true leader and showed great compassion and concern for the welfare of his men before, during and after a battle. Even after his death, the pride of the unit never diminished.
There is no holding back on the ferocity of the battles he was in involved in: Manassas, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg and a host of others. I was fascinated with how many of the engagements happened on the Potomac river. I found myself going to Goggle Earth to follow the progress of each engagement. I couldn’t help but think, how in the hell did the South not defeat the North. Time and time again, the South, despite suffering horrendous casualties gave better than what they took. Take into account the terrain he fought it, it’s no wonder the American Civil War was one of the bloodies conflicts in World History: sweltering heat, forbidding forest, mountainous terrain, swollen streams and rivers.
The only recollection I questioned was his comparison to Fort McHenry prison camp to Andersonville. For the most part he was well fed and taken care of to a degree. Anyone who has read anything about Andersonville knows, it was hell on earth.
Other than that, an excellent read!
Five Stars
There is no holding back on the ferocity of the battles he was in involved in: Manassas, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg and a host of others. I was fascinated with how many of the engagements happened on the Potomac river. I found myself going to Goggle Earth to follow the progress of each engagement. I couldn’t help but think, how in the hell did the South not defeat the North. Time and time again, the South, despite suffering horrendous casualties gave better than what they took. Take into account the terrain he fought it, it’s no wonder the American Civil War was one of the bloodies conflicts in World History: sweltering heat, forbidding forest, mountainous terrain, swollen streams and rivers.
The only recollection I questioned was his comparison to Fort McHenry prison camp to Andersonville. For the most part he was well fed and taken care of to a degree. Anyone who has read anything about Andersonville knows, it was hell on earth.
Other than that, an excellent read!
Five Stars
August 13, 2016
This is a most enjoyable book which outlines the author's experiences during the Civil War. The beauty of the book is how it gives the reader the story of what the soldiers did between fighting. It speaks about hunting for food, going home, and other daily events. It is very readable and gives a true representation of the life of a Confederate soldier in Lee's army.
May 5, 2017
Phenomenal book taken from his diaries that he kept while an infantryman in Stonewall's brigade. Unlike the commander's memories, this gives you a more personal account and daily activities of the Civil War soldier.
What really was amazing was his description of one of the Winters and the snowball fight that several regiments took part in, quite a surprise when you think of the heavy casualties that they all went through in the war.
He even goes into smaller raids, prison memories and meeting people at the reunions after the war.
Recommended for Civil War history buffs.
What really was amazing was his description of one of the Winters and the snowball fight that several regiments took part in, quite a surprise when you think of the heavy casualties that they all went through in the war.
He even goes into smaller raids, prison memories and meeting people at the reunions after the war.
Recommended for Civil War history buffs.
August 17, 2016
Excellent account by one who was there
John Casler describes his experiences as an active member of the brigade. Casler lived through many terrible battles and his love and respect for Stonewall are reflected in this account.
John Casler describes his experiences as an active member of the brigade. Casler lived through many terrible battles and his love and respect for Stonewall are reflected in this account.
October 1, 2016
Confederate Private Autobiography
This book was written by a private in the Stonewall Brigade shortly after the war about his experiences during the war. It is rather lengthy but we'll written. It gives you a very good idea of what it was like to serve during the civil war.
This book was written by a private in the Stonewall Brigade shortly after the war about his experiences during the war. It is rather lengthy but we'll written. It gives you a very good idea of what it was like to serve during the civil war.
June 16, 2023
I'll start this review with my favorite quote: "War, with all its terrors, is a great civilizer, if civilization means respect for other people's opinions."
This book is a great first-hand account of what the Civil War was really about: not just action, or shooting, or glorious bayonet attacks, but rather endless marching, looting, cold, and constant foraging for any food. In fact, the civil war soldiers resembled more of tramps than an organized army. Soldiers tend to wander up and down across a vast landscape, go to sleep wherever they like, are late on the march, and often desert home.
The southerners have a habit of throwing away equipment during rapid movements, which is why they loot and rob the dead enemies. The army has a lot of stragglers who disappear from their units for weeks or wounded who go to private farms to treat their wounds. On the way back to the unit, recovered soldiers often make long detours to visit friends. Even the elite units like the Stonewall Brigade function in such chaos: "The soldiers and officers cared very little for exact discipline. We drilled very rarely, and the dress parade was played out. Very little camp guarding was done, and when we did have a camp guard they would sit on their posts unconcerned. In some ways the discipline was as good and strict as ever; but we were on the march or fighting nearly all the time.”
Apart from the daily dying and suffering, the most touching passages in the book are from the winter camp, when there was little fighting. Rough soldiers from the countryside got the opportunity to experience real culture for the first time in their lives, as the army also drafted a number of professional artists who ran concerts and theater in the camp.
Another form of entertainment was the biggest snowball battle in world history, in which entire divisions participated: "It was the greatest snowball battle ever fought, and showed that men are but children of larger growth. The Richmond papers even devoted several columns each giving an account of the snowball battle. If all battles would terminate that way it would be a great improvement on the old slaughtering plan.”
What I found a little lacking in the book is that the author did not explain much of his motivation for fighting for the rebels. Although he perceives the war in general as evil, he takes the choice of the South for granted. He does not think much about the reasoning behind his sacrifice and doesn’t care about state rights either.
Anyway, the book is a great source of information about the Civil War. Here are some of my highlighted parts:
Diseases kill more than the enemy: "We were out for nearly one month, and had miserable weather all the time, and did no fighting, except some little skirmishing, but we lost more men from sickness than if we had been engaged in a big battle. We accomplished nothing, for the enemy retreated across the Potomac, only to come back again as soon as we left. Winchester was full of soldiers sick with pneumonia, and they died by hundreds."
Burial of burnt corpses after the battle of Spotsylvania: "We buried them all alike by covering them up with dirt where they lay. It was the most sickening sight I saw during the war and I wondered whether the American people were civilized or not, to butcher one another in that manner; and I came to the conclusion that we were barbarians, North and South alike.”
Ordinary soldiers get along with the enemy: "General Hooker's Army lay on the north side of the river, with pickets along the bank, while ours was on the south bank. The picket guard of each army would go swimming together, and trade coffee and tobacco, and be as friendly as if nothing had happened. Such is war.”
Hunger will force you to eat bloody biscuits: "We got out of rations during this battle and could not get to our wagons, but the Yankees had four- or five-days’ rations of "hard tack" and bacon in their haversacks, and we would get them from the dead. I have been so hungry that I have cut the blood off from crackers and eaten them.”
On the destruction of war: "General Sheridan had orders from General Grant to reduce the Shenandoah Valley to such a state of poverty that a crow, in flying over it, would have to carry his rations to keep from starving; and it looked like that would be the case. The mills and barns were full of grain, and Grant knew the Valley was a rich store-house for General Lee's Army. If he could not whip us out, he would starve us out. Such is politics in war… Oh! those who never saw war have no idea of the ruin, desolation, death and suffering it brings…
This book is a great first-hand account of what the Civil War was really about: not just action, or shooting, or glorious bayonet attacks, but rather endless marching, looting, cold, and constant foraging for any food. In fact, the civil war soldiers resembled more of tramps than an organized army. Soldiers tend to wander up and down across a vast landscape, go to sleep wherever they like, are late on the march, and often desert home.
The southerners have a habit of throwing away equipment during rapid movements, which is why they loot and rob the dead enemies. The army has a lot of stragglers who disappear from their units for weeks or wounded who go to private farms to treat their wounds. On the way back to the unit, recovered soldiers often make long detours to visit friends. Even the elite units like the Stonewall Brigade function in such chaos: "The soldiers and officers cared very little for exact discipline. We drilled very rarely, and the dress parade was played out. Very little camp guarding was done, and when we did have a camp guard they would sit on their posts unconcerned. In some ways the discipline was as good and strict as ever; but we were on the march or fighting nearly all the time.”
Apart from the daily dying and suffering, the most touching passages in the book are from the winter camp, when there was little fighting. Rough soldiers from the countryside got the opportunity to experience real culture for the first time in their lives, as the army also drafted a number of professional artists who ran concerts and theater in the camp.
Another form of entertainment was the biggest snowball battle in world history, in which entire divisions participated: "It was the greatest snowball battle ever fought, and showed that men are but children of larger growth. The Richmond papers even devoted several columns each giving an account of the snowball battle. If all battles would terminate that way it would be a great improvement on the old slaughtering plan.”
What I found a little lacking in the book is that the author did not explain much of his motivation for fighting for the rebels. Although he perceives the war in general as evil, he takes the choice of the South for granted. He does not think much about the reasoning behind his sacrifice and doesn’t care about state rights either.
Anyway, the book is a great source of information about the Civil War. Here are some of my highlighted parts:
Diseases kill more than the enemy: "We were out for nearly one month, and had miserable weather all the time, and did no fighting, except some little skirmishing, but we lost more men from sickness than if we had been engaged in a big battle. We accomplished nothing, for the enemy retreated across the Potomac, only to come back again as soon as we left. Winchester was full of soldiers sick with pneumonia, and they died by hundreds."
Burial of burnt corpses after the battle of Spotsylvania: "We buried them all alike by covering them up with dirt where they lay. It was the most sickening sight I saw during the war and I wondered whether the American people were civilized or not, to butcher one another in that manner; and I came to the conclusion that we were barbarians, North and South alike.”
Ordinary soldiers get along with the enemy: "General Hooker's Army lay on the north side of the river, with pickets along the bank, while ours was on the south bank. The picket guard of each army would go swimming together, and trade coffee and tobacco, and be as friendly as if nothing had happened. Such is war.”
Hunger will force you to eat bloody biscuits: "We got out of rations during this battle and could not get to our wagons, but the Yankees had four- or five-days’ rations of "hard tack" and bacon in their haversacks, and we would get them from the dead. I have been so hungry that I have cut the blood off from crackers and eaten them.”
On the destruction of war: "General Sheridan had orders from General Grant to reduce the Shenandoah Valley to such a state of poverty that a crow, in flying over it, would have to carry his rations to keep from starving; and it looked like that would be the case. The mills and barns were full of grain, and Grant knew the Valley was a rich store-house for General Lee's Army. If he could not whip us out, he would starve us out. Such is politics in war… Oh! those who never saw war have no idea of the ruin, desolation, death and suffering it brings…
October 12, 2021
Surprisingly candid
May 8, 2025
It's cool cause this author is my great great great grandfather and there's no reason he should've survived but I'm glad he did 😂
February 25, 2021
This was a pretty good read, at least for the parts about his experiences in the Stonewall Brigade. A lot of the lists of names he served with, the poetry, and his generally discussions of things like, "the women of the South," at the end of the book just weren't as interesting. I still recommend the book overall though.
December 9, 2020
I listened to the excellently narrated audiobook, but you can find the book itself for free online:
https://archive.org/details/fouryears...
It's a fine enough book for people who are really interested in the American civil war, but for me it felt 150 pages too long. Often a lot of text was describing where the command (or regiment? I can't remember these terms) travelled to or who the author met. Often in technical ways and in kinda technical English. It's not the simplest read, but you can still understand it and enjoy it if you have the need to read such historical literature and are willing to focus on the text on the page/audio. It's largely of interest to Americans wanting to dive deep into their history.
It's a bit dry to be fair. We mostly read about facts and not emotional tales.
Chapter 1
5,5/10
A poetic reflection on war and the civil war. If you like poetry this is for you, but it feels impersonal and flashy instead of really explaining the war. The war just started and then Virginia just had to join. There is no logic here. I need a more personal touch and a more rational logic, not this.
Chapter 2
6/10
Pretty basic chapter where he joins the Southern army. He travels from town to town with the regiment and it all feels very top-down as we read about the movements and singular events yet ideas and emotions are not on the forefront. It's very well-written and simple to understand, but it feels pointless.
Chapter 3
7/10
Very emotional chapter about his friend getting killed. We actually don't learn much about anyone as such. So little is said about personalities or life stories, but death is coming for the regiment and you feel the battle.
Chapter 4
5/10
Lots of letters and opinions by other soldiers. And a ton of info dumps about this or that event. All hard to keep track of for me.
Chapter 5
7/10
Maybe not the most exciting chapter, but the personal stories make it work overall. A lot of small anecdotes and funny tales that reveal how the army worked for the soldiers.
Chapter 6
6/10
Again a ton of small anecdotes but this time more impersonal battles. Still engaging enough but feels unstructured again.
Chapter 7
7/10
The beginning lack of food creates some funny anecdotes here, but overall it's hard to keep track of. Now that I think about it this book needs an interactive map with it. Without a map you can follow along on it becomes very hard to understand what the regiment did.
Chapter 8
5/10
Pretty average. Not much to it as they just move about the battlefields.
Chapter 9
5,5/10
More marching. Pretty regular stuff but an interesting dialogue with a new soldier who tries to follow all rules.
Chapter 10
5/10
More walking and fighting.
Chapter 11
5/10
Another very bloody battle. Technical writing still.
Chapter 12
7/10
Visiting his friends. Curious chapter. He says he knew everyone in town. Whites and negroes, but didn't want negroes to see him there and also avoid Union soldiers. Because they could be turncoats? In a former chapter a negroe boy helps them so this conclusion is not completely clear, but I assume there is some race divide in their town? Maybe an ideological one?
Chapter 13
7/10
Spy mission where they steal horses. Not really sure what this is about, but it's one of the more action packed chapters.
Chapter 14
5/10
Still jumping from point to point but there are some clear stories here.
Chapter 15
7/10
The great general Jackson is shot by his own army, RIP. It's a chapter on his funeral and everything that went along with it. This is pretty much it for the South as losing the leaders that made the difference will just mean you are a weaker army with just as bad leaders.
Chapter 16
6/10
Food stealing and going into a conquered town with Union ladies there. They also help free an old horse. Interesting anecdotes but nothing special.
Chapter 17
5/10
More unconnected stories. Some interesting anecdotes but they are very short and it's mostly yet again flat exposition.
The stories he tells about Union ladies are the most interesting, but since he doesn't go into sex or flirting it becomes a bit tame.
Chapter 18
6/10
10 deserters are executed.
Chapter 19
6/10
Again a ton of mini-stories. For example, he is close to falling in love yet we only hear just a few lines about the 3 women his group kept meeting with. So who were these women? How did they look like? What did they say? How did they behave? All of this is not essential for the writer. It's just some women they hang out with. There is no dialogue here to get us into the situation.
As you can see this is not really what a modern reader is seeking. I'm not asking for sexual details, but I do want more info than given here. Unfortunately the names of the people, towns and soldiers is seemingly more important than the emotional tales here.
Chapter 20
8/10
Snowball fight chapter. Very good. Funny snowball fight lead by the generals. And more food anecdotes. In this part of the book we also read more about stealing and how watches and knives are taken from dead men. The soldiers also constantly steal food and other things from town and from commanders. This and then the constant running away just to visit their families and go back again is very dangerous. If you go on personal leave, which is normal, and are captured you will be considered a deserter and may get executed. Still they kept doing it.
Chapter 21
6/10
The battle is more bloody and fast here which is interesting for sure. But at this point the book is running very long.
Chapter 22
6/10
Pretty good. They are going hungry and now have to search extra hard for food in his company. Most inhabitants now don't have much food to give so they really don't want soldiers to take any anymore.
Wait till I clean my gun and I'll give you a sorta solute.
Chapter 23
6/10
Clear storytelling. This is good. His group of sick friends are trying to escape the Union army.
Chapter 24
6/10
Closer to the loss of the Confederate army. Not really explained that well here and it's largely events he didn't take part in.
Chapter 25
7/10
They are hungry and poor. They kidnap a cow salesman as they want food and riches. It's at times hard to know how they are able to do this much by themselves outside the regiment, but seems like their war was largely a guerilla warfare. Groups just decide to do a lot of stuff by themselves.
Chapter 26
8/10
He gets captured by Confederate troops that take all his things and even clothes. But soon he discovers they are actually Union soldiers as their regiment is blue.
Chapter 27
8/10
Maybe the best chapter so far. Still feels like he is just describing events from far above, but a good prison story is always nice.
What really makes this is that instead of us just slinging from town to town and meeting hundreds of people we are in one location with only just those people there. This focuses the story and finally makes the reader able to better visualize everything.
Chapter 28
7/10
Some good prison survival stories and his release from prison after signing a declaration to serve USA and the president.
Chapter 29
8/10
A few pages long chapter about a prison escape. I understood it all for once so I rate it highly.
Chapter 30
2/10
A bunch of names and what happened to them.
Chapter 31
7/10
Not much info as it's a short chapter post the war on how the South is actually more patriotic and that the war was pointless. It's a nice moral lecture about union and respect of fellow soldiers. Beautiful in a way.
Chapter 32
4/10
Poems, letters. A bit pointless to be fair.
Chapter 33
4/10
Just extra stuff. Good to have but the book is already 100 pages too long and this is too much.
The cantine poem is nice though.
https://archive.org/details/fouryears...
It's a fine enough book for people who are really interested in the American civil war, but for me it felt 150 pages too long. Often a lot of text was describing where the command (or regiment? I can't remember these terms) travelled to or who the author met. Often in technical ways and in kinda technical English. It's not the simplest read, but you can still understand it and enjoy it if you have the need to read such historical literature and are willing to focus on the text on the page/audio. It's largely of interest to Americans wanting to dive deep into their history.
It's a bit dry to be fair. We mostly read about facts and not emotional tales.
Chapter 1
5,5/10
A poetic reflection on war and the civil war. If you like poetry this is for you, but it feels impersonal and flashy instead of really explaining the war. The war just started and then Virginia just had to join. There is no logic here. I need a more personal touch and a more rational logic, not this.
Chapter 2
6/10
Pretty basic chapter where he joins the Southern army. He travels from town to town with the regiment and it all feels very top-down as we read about the movements and singular events yet ideas and emotions are not on the forefront. It's very well-written and simple to understand, but it feels pointless.
Chapter 3
7/10
Very emotional chapter about his friend getting killed. We actually don't learn much about anyone as such. So little is said about personalities or life stories, but death is coming for the regiment and you feel the battle.
Chapter 4
5/10
Lots of letters and opinions by other soldiers. And a ton of info dumps about this or that event. All hard to keep track of for me.
Chapter 5
7/10
Maybe not the most exciting chapter, but the personal stories make it work overall. A lot of small anecdotes and funny tales that reveal how the army worked for the soldiers.
Chapter 6
6/10
Again a ton of small anecdotes but this time more impersonal battles. Still engaging enough but feels unstructured again.
Chapter 7
7/10
The beginning lack of food creates some funny anecdotes here, but overall it's hard to keep track of. Now that I think about it this book needs an interactive map with it. Without a map you can follow along on it becomes very hard to understand what the regiment did.
Chapter 8
5/10
Pretty average. Not much to it as they just move about the battlefields.
Chapter 9
5,5/10
More marching. Pretty regular stuff but an interesting dialogue with a new soldier who tries to follow all rules.
Chapter 10
5/10
More walking and fighting.
Chapter 11
5/10
Another very bloody battle. Technical writing still.
Chapter 12
7/10
Visiting his friends. Curious chapter. He says he knew everyone in town. Whites and negroes, but didn't want negroes to see him there and also avoid Union soldiers. Because they could be turncoats? In a former chapter a negroe boy helps them so this conclusion is not completely clear, but I assume there is some race divide in their town? Maybe an ideological one?
Chapter 13
7/10
Spy mission where they steal horses. Not really sure what this is about, but it's one of the more action packed chapters.
Chapter 14
5/10
Still jumping from point to point but there are some clear stories here.
Chapter 15
7/10
The great general Jackson is shot by his own army, RIP. It's a chapter on his funeral and everything that went along with it. This is pretty much it for the South as losing the leaders that made the difference will just mean you are a weaker army with just as bad leaders.
Chapter 16
6/10
Food stealing and going into a conquered town with Union ladies there. They also help free an old horse. Interesting anecdotes but nothing special.
Chapter 17
5/10
More unconnected stories. Some interesting anecdotes but they are very short and it's mostly yet again flat exposition.
The stories he tells about Union ladies are the most interesting, but since he doesn't go into sex or flirting it becomes a bit tame.
Chapter 18
6/10
10 deserters are executed.
Chapter 19
6/10
Again a ton of mini-stories. For example, he is close to falling in love yet we only hear just a few lines about the 3 women his group kept meeting with. So who were these women? How did they look like? What did they say? How did they behave? All of this is not essential for the writer. It's just some women they hang out with. There is no dialogue here to get us into the situation.
As you can see this is not really what a modern reader is seeking. I'm not asking for sexual details, but I do want more info than given here. Unfortunately the names of the people, towns and soldiers is seemingly more important than the emotional tales here.
Chapter 20
8/10
Snowball fight chapter. Very good. Funny snowball fight lead by the generals. And more food anecdotes. In this part of the book we also read more about stealing and how watches and knives are taken from dead men. The soldiers also constantly steal food and other things from town and from commanders. This and then the constant running away just to visit their families and go back again is very dangerous. If you go on personal leave, which is normal, and are captured you will be considered a deserter and may get executed. Still they kept doing it.
Chapter 21
6/10
The battle is more bloody and fast here which is interesting for sure. But at this point the book is running very long.
Chapter 22
6/10
Pretty good. They are going hungry and now have to search extra hard for food in his company. Most inhabitants now don't have much food to give so they really don't want soldiers to take any anymore.
Wait till I clean my gun and I'll give you a sorta solute.
Chapter 23
6/10
Clear storytelling. This is good. His group of sick friends are trying to escape the Union army.
Chapter 24
6/10
Closer to the loss of the Confederate army. Not really explained that well here and it's largely events he didn't take part in.
Chapter 25
7/10
They are hungry and poor. They kidnap a cow salesman as they want food and riches. It's at times hard to know how they are able to do this much by themselves outside the regiment, but seems like their war was largely a guerilla warfare. Groups just decide to do a lot of stuff by themselves.
Chapter 26
8/10
He gets captured by Confederate troops that take all his things and even clothes. But soon he discovers they are actually Union soldiers as their regiment is blue.
Chapter 27
8/10
Maybe the best chapter so far. Still feels like he is just describing events from far above, but a good prison story is always nice.
What really makes this is that instead of us just slinging from town to town and meeting hundreds of people we are in one location with only just those people there. This focuses the story and finally makes the reader able to better visualize everything.
Chapter 28
7/10
Some good prison survival stories and his release from prison after signing a declaration to serve USA and the president.
Chapter 29
8/10
A few pages long chapter about a prison escape. I understood it all for once so I rate it highly.
Chapter 30
2/10
A bunch of names and what happened to them.
Chapter 31
7/10
Not much info as it's a short chapter post the war on how the South is actually more patriotic and that the war was pointless. It's a nice moral lecture about union and respect of fellow soldiers. Beautiful in a way.
Chapter 32
4/10
Poems, letters. A bit pointless to be fair.
Chapter 33
4/10
Just extra stuff. Good to have but the book is already 100 pages too long and this is too much.
The cantine poem is nice though.
June 14, 2021
Entertaining memoir of the life of a private in Stonewall's brigade. Casler brings much humor to the everyday life of being a Confederate soldier. He also keenly expresses the horrors of war, including his tears over a friend's corpse during the Battle of 1st Manassas (Bull Run). Casler witnessed many of the key battles of the Civil War--1st and 2nd Bull Run, Antietam, and Gettysburg--although he didn't personally fight in each battle. There were officers he liked (Stonewall for sure), and others he didn't. Indeed, there was one officer whose discipline was so cruel that his soldiers were fixing to let him get killed in the next battle. He did indeed get killed, but with no help from his soldiers.
Having already read much about the battles that Casler reminisces, I can't say if I know if the general reader would be able to follow as well. Maybe a bit much about brigades and regiments and such jargon, but Casler does explain well, and simply, all the military particulars. Found this more entertaining than some other first-hand soldier accounts of the US Civil War. Listened to the audiobook version and I enjoyed the narrator's reading.
Having already read much about the battles that Casler reminisces, I can't say if I know if the general reader would be able to follow as well. Maybe a bit much about brigades and regiments and such jargon, but Casler does explain well, and simply, all the military particulars. Found this more entertaining than some other first-hand soldier accounts of the US Civil War. Listened to the audiobook version and I enjoyed the narrator's reading.
January 11, 2021
This was a very good first-person account of the Civil War in one of the most famous brigades of the war. Stonewall Jackson was an excellent battlefield general. His death was a huge blow to the south and there is speculation as to what may have happened had he survived. However, this book is about the men in the trenches and their day by day activities. From that standpoint, it's a good read for anyone wanting to learn more about the Civil War.
November 2, 2018
Four Years in the Stonewall Brigade
Good narrative of one soldier's experience during the U. S. Civil War. Gives an in-depth look into the life of an Infantryman's life.
Recommended reading for anyone interested in the civil war and the South at that time
Good narrative of one soldier's experience during the U. S. Civil War. Gives an in-depth look into the life of an Infantryman's life.
Recommended reading for anyone interested in the civil war and the South at that time
August 23, 2020
A must read for history lovers
I have read many accounts of the war and this ranks with Sam Watkins "Co Aytch." The author accounts his experience with great detail and adds a little humor and humility as well.
I have read many accounts of the war and this ranks with Sam Watkins "Co Aytch." The author accounts his experience with great detail and adds a little humor and humility as well.
April 8, 2022
intriguing
Interesting approach to follow the efforts of a junior enlisted in the army of Stonewall. Provides a lot of detail in the existence of the army during battles and in camp.
Interesting approach to follow the efforts of a junior enlisted in the army of Stonewall. Provides a lot of detail in the existence of the army during battles and in camp.
March 10, 2018
Interesting book. Very pleasant to read. Well written
March 28, 2019
action-packed.
October 24, 2019
Life of a confederate soldier
If you are interested in the day to day life of a confederate soldier then you will enjoy this book.
If you are interested in the day to day life of a confederate soldier then you will enjoy this book.
January 6, 2021
Complete history of the stone wall brigade
Probably the best war memoir I have ever read and I have read hundreds! No American student of history would want to neglect reading this.
Probably the best war memoir I have ever read and I have read hundreds! No American student of history would want to neglect reading this.
October 15, 2021
Audible - unabridged - Dipped in and out while going to sleep - OK - not memorable for me
February 14, 2022
Valuable firsthand account of the CW.
Read
August 9, 2022Excellent first-person account of the Man and his soldiers. Love reading of the adventures and battles and also the hardship that comes with it.
October 10, 2023
Interesting real time view of historic events
July 17, 2021
Decent book to get a soldier's perspective of the war of Northern aggression, but the author was not a writer and the result is a somewhat bland presentation. The loyalty Jackson secured for his troops was a type of leadership that seems to be in danger of elimination in the current military climate as any sentiment of morality or patriotism is viewed with suspicion.
March 21, 2021
Available at Open Library:
https://openlibrary.org/works/OL18036...
https://openlibrary.org/works/OL18036...
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