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Co. Aytch Paperback – August 5, 2013

by Sam R. Watkins (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 341 ratings
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Of the 120 men who enlisted in "Company H" (Or Co. Aytch as he calls it) in 1861, Sam Watkins was one of only seven alive when General Joseph E. Johnston's Army of Tennessee surrendered to General William Tecumseh Sherman in North Carolina on April, 1865. Of the 1,200 men who fought in the First Tennessee, only 65 were left to be paroled on that day. "Co. Aytch: A Confederate Memoir of the Civil War" is heralded by many historians as one of the best war memoirs written by a common soldier of the field. Sam R. Watkin's writing style in "Co Aytch" is quite engaging and skillfully captures the pride, misery, glory, and horror experienced by the common foot soldier.
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  1. Print length
    184 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    August 5, 2013
  4. Dimensions
    6 x 0.42 x 9 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    1491283319
  6. ISBN-13
    978-1491283318
  7. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Samuel "Sam" Rush Watkins (June 26, 1839 - July 20, 1901) was a noted Confederate soldier during the American Civil War. He is known today for his memoir Company Aytch: Or, a Side Show of the Big Show, often heralded as one of the best primary sources about the common soldier's Civil War experience. Watkins was born on June 26, 1839 near Columbia, Maury County, Tennessee, and received his formal education at Jackson College in Columbia. He originally enlisted in the "Bigby Greys" of the 3rd Tennessee Infantry in Mount Pleasant, Tennessee, but transferred shortly thereafter to the First Tennessee Infantry, Company H (the "Maury Greys") in the spring of 1861. Watkins faithfully served throughout the duration of the War, participating in the battles of Shiloh, Corinth, Perryville, Murfreesboro (Stones River), Shelbyville, Chattanooga, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Resaca, Adairsville, Kennesaw Mountain (Cheatham Hill), New Hope Church, Zion Church, Kingston, Cassville, Atlanta, Jonesboro, Franklin, and Nashville. Of the 120 men who enlisted in "Company H" in 1861, Sam Watkins was one of only seven alive when General Joseph E. Johnston's Army of Tennessee surrendered to General William Tecumseh Sherman in North Carolina April, 1865. Of the 1,200 men who fought in the First Tennessee, only 65 were left to be paroled on that day. Soon after the war ended, Watkins began writing his memoir, entitled "Company Aytch: Or, a Side Show of the Big Show". It was originally serialized in the Columbia, Tennessee Herald newspaper. "Co. Aytch" was published in a first edition of 2,000 in book form in 1882. "Co. Aytch" is heralded by many historians as one of the best war memoirs written by a common soldier of the field. Sam's writing style is quite engaging and skillfully captures the pride, misery, glory, and horror experienced by the common foot soldier. Watkins is often featured and quoted in Ken Burns' 1990 documentary titled The Civil War. Watkins died on July 20, 1901 at the age of sixty-two in his home in the Ashwood Community. He was buried with full military honors by the members of the Leonidas Polk Bivouac, United Confederate Veterans, in the cemetery of the Zion Presbyterian Church near Mount Pleasant, Tennessee.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (August 5, 2013)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 184 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1491283319
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1491283318
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 9 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.42 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 341 ratings

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Samuel R. Watkins

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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
341 global ratings
Pages are falling out…
1 Star
Pages are falling out…
Started reading this book, last week. Not even through the first chapter and the table of contents fell out… As I continued reading, page 9-10 fell out… The book isn’t bound very well… NOT happy…
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Top reviews from the United States

George S.
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read of a Rebel soldier’s true life experience
Reviewed in the United States on November 19, 2023
Verified Purchase
Reads well, love the southern dialect. True story of being a peon infantryman in the Confederacy during the civil War.
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Jim Sibbring
5.0 out of 5 stars we are lucky!
Reviewed in the United States on May 5, 2024
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I have read many history’s of the civil war & many time Sam Watkins is quoted. His writing ability & vocabulary are way ahead of the avg. I’ve always wondered why he wasn’t promoted to be an officer. Perhaps his abilities were limited to just writing??
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Dale Banford
5.0 out of 5 stars Co. Aytch
Reviewed in the United States on August 24, 2011
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I've read several diaries by Civil War Veterans. This is my favorite. Sam Watkins was a Cofederate private in alot of major battles. One of few to live thru so many, from the start of the war to the finish. He is often quoted in Ken Burns "Civil War" series. He keeps the reader interested by his many tales of things the troops did to occupy time, as well as telling his personnal picture of the battles in which he fought. He talks of desertion and of morale of soldiers throughout the war. I also learned alot comparing his own experiences to those of my own; having been a veteran of the Viet Nam war. For instance men were shot & killed by firing squads then for what since has become known as "Shell Shock" or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder! He wrote this book several years after the end of the war; but still remembers alot of detail, hardships, fun times, and so on. I would recommend this book to anyone. I'll probably reread it myself sometime.
6 people found this helpful
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The Hawk
4.0 out of 5 stars A private soldiers point of view.
Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2012
Verified Purchase
An excellent perspective on the civil war from a confederate "Private Soldier's" point of view. Not wanting to put any spoilers in this review I will just note a couple of things that struck me. One was the brutality directed at the Reb soldiers by their own commanders. I knew prior to reading this book that discipline is key to an army's success I was not aware of the lengths that were taken to ensure this discipline. It was quite appalling and eye-opening.
I also found the thorough disregard that some of the rebel generals had for the lives of the "private soldiers" was indecent.

(one spoiler, sort of). Watkins notes that while the generals got the glory (and the blame at times), the grunts did the majority of the fighting and dying so he always aimed at the Federal privates as they were the ones who were trying to kill him. Also he notes that while generals could resign and leave the army the "private soldier's" had no such option.

The book is written as Watkins' recollections of what he saw and did during the war and he frequently reminds the reader that this is not a history book. So if you are looking for a detailed history of the specific battles and the war in general then this is not the book for you. If you want a good, quick read about life in the trenches during the civil war I have not yet read a better account.
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B. Dutcher
5.0 out of 5 stars Eloquent Confederate PrivateTells ALL!!
Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2008
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Mr. Watkins tells a humble and epic story. A confederate private shares his unique perspective. Reveals the grim realities of a glorious cause going from bad to worse and back again. It is truly amazing he survived four years of warfare. Most often death was easier than survival. General Bragg routinely court martialed his troops with a firing squad for deserters. Further punishments like barreling, whippings and deprevations were routine. It got better under General Johnston and worse again under General Hood. The soldiers alternatively cursed and praised the war, its' cause and the Generals. Yet like in all wars, the men fought for each other. So many soldiers met their Maker, whereby Watkins extolls their virtues and praises. Eloquently written and graphically descriptive. Sam's survival is a testimonial to God's protection. Written in the 1880's.
READ the book and you will find a friend from the ages.
2 people found this helpful
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lanoitan
5.0 out of 5 stars Grrrrrrreat book!
Reviewed in the United States on June 13, 2005
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The other reviewers have said it all. I don't remember how I stumbled upon this book here at Amazon, but I read a bit of the excerpts and was immediately hooked. I guess the fact that I had recently read about Lincoln, made me want to take a look at the confederate side. Sam Watkins was obviously a wonderful, sensitive, intelligent person. What the heck is war, anyway? A lot of really nice people killing a lot of other really nice people. Was the civil war simply over the states' right to secede? And if the CSA had won, would there now simply be two countries instead of one United States? plus all the other consequent differences. Slavery? Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation only because he was afraid Europe was going to support the Confederacy. Slavery would have gradually been abolished anyway. Anyway, reading this fascinating confederate private's-eyed view of that war certainly was an educational experience for me. What can I say more than Grrrrreat book! Don't miss it!
6 people found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Sam Watkins Up Close & Personal!
Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2007
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Sam Watkins writes with such candid honesty and emotion that it has provided this reader some insight to the average person living in the South. He didn't own a plantation or slaves. He wasn't wealthy or involved in politics nor was was he a military man. He was just a young man living an ordinary life like most of us. When the call came to defend his country, what we call our state, his passion & love of country led him into extraordinary circumstances. His vivid descriptions of his life as a private soldier from Tennessee allowed this reader to share his experiences both good & bad. I highly recommend this book for anyone wanting some insight into the life of the private soldier in the Confederate Army of the Tennessee.
One person found this helpful
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Harry
5.0 out of 5 stars Nobody can say they understand the Civil War without first reading this
Reviewed in the United States on July 31, 2016
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I think Sam's a whole lot brighter than he let on. He had the eye and the brain to record and report on the Civil War better than any private soldier up until Lester Atwell in Private about World War II. His way of telling his story was unique, respectful of fallen comrades, callus about death, and made good sense. By the end of the book you had to admire the guy for his durability and dedication even if it was for the wrong cause - not that he didn't bluster about Southern generals, statesmen, and the war itself along the way.
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Top reviews from other countries

Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Foot soldiers perspective of the civil war.
Reviewed in Canada on September 16, 2018
Verified Purchase
The most interesting narrative of the civil war Written by a private from the south. His short story telling places the reader in the midst of battle and the drudgery of the common soldier.
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City Pigeon
5.0 out of 5 stars US Civil War Memoirs
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 28, 2016
Verified Purchase
A must for everyone interested in the US Civil War. Tells the story of what it was like to be an ordinary Confederate soldier fighting in the lines. Describes the deprivations the fighting men suffered in the name of the cause and what it was like to lose friends to the carnage of battle.
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sby
5.0 out of 5 stars Quite simply brilliant.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 26, 2014
Verified Purchase
Quite different from the history reviews, written by an actual soldier and written from his simple view of the war, hence no political stance. A simple cut and thrust view of a simple man in a gone by age of war. Quite simply brilliant
.
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John R Proud
4.0 out of 5 stars Sam Watkins served from the outset to the end and was fortunate to survive
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 18, 2016
Verified Purchase
Quite a few typographical errors in the text but this does not detract from a unique account of life as a rebel infantryman. Sam Watkins served from the outset to the end and was fortunate to survive, No politics or history just the story of an ordinary guy caught up in events.
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Maxx the Cat
4.0 out of 5 stars Memoirs of a Rebel soldier
Reviewed in Canada on February 18, 2003
Verified Purchase
This is a wonderful book by Sam R Watkins: a confederate soldier that survived the entire American Civil War (1861-1865). Watkins was a private who joined the Tennessee Army and with whom he participated in every battle and skirmish that the regiment was involved. He received several wounds but never any serious enough to keep him out of action for very long.
These memoirs where written about 20 years (circa 1882) after the last shot was fired and so there are some minor errors in the facts regarding some of the events described. The descriptions are short individual vignettes of battles, marches and daily life associated with the Confederate Army.
What makes this account of the civil war special is the quality of the story telling. The language has a sensitivity to it that seems to capture your imagination and emotions. It is, of course, at times explicitly descriptive, regarding some of the battles and their aftermath, but there are passages that are movingly sad and others that are quite humorous: tales of how thousands of men have to learn to live together and adapt to survive prolonged stressful conditions. The narrative description of the deprivation and dilapidation of the Confederate Army at wars end is heart rendering; men in filthy, tattered clothes, many barefoot and starving.
I learned several things from this work; for instance, I was unaware of the numerous small battles that never claimed the infamy of Gettysburg, Antietam, Manassas etc. but were none the less just as vicious as their larger counterparts. Daily skirmishes were not an infrequent occurrence. I was unaware previously of the frequent court-martials and firing squads used to deal with the relatively large number of deserters from the Southern Army. Also interesting was the acute awareness and acumen of the lowly private soldiers regarding the circumstances surrounding some events that were looming in their immediate future; i.e. battle formations, forced marches, incompetent leaders etc. If the generals had the instincts that some of the "regulars" did, a lot of the carnage may have been substantially reduced or avoided.
The only negatives are (thus the loss of one star)
1.) there are very few dates given(you assume the book runs chronologically)
2.) a map would have made it so much easier to follow the marches and battles locations
All in all a compelling work: personal insights that you just don't find in larger accounts of this period.
Highly recommended if you have any interest in the Civil War era.
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