My Little War Experience (Abridged, Annotated) Edward

August 5th, 1862, having obtained my mother's written consent, tearfully given, to my enlistment in the army. I was then a little over sixteen years of age and weighed ninety-two pounds.In one of the most pleasurable-to-read memoirs of the American C... Read more

August 5th, 1862, having obtained my mother's written consent, tearfully given, to my enlistment in the army. I was then a little over sixteen years of age and weighed ninety-two pounds.In one of the most pleasurable-to-read memoirs of the American Civil War by a private soldier, Ed Spangler's 1904 book captures all of the horror, fear, humor, and thrill of the life of a real-life warrior.Young man, you are only five foot two--two inches too short. I immediately stood on my toes and said, 'Try it again. He did; and, winking, replied, That's all right.At Antietam, Marye's Heights, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville, Spangler acknowledge that split-in-self between the horror of the sights and the thrill of battle, frequently relieved by black humor.The sight of hundreds of prostrate men with serious wounds of every description was appalling. A few, under the influence of anesthetics, ripped out a succession of oaths that must have required years of sedulous preparation.The moment I discharged my rifle, all my previous scare was gone. I never experienced such excitement and rapture.For the first time, this long out-of-print volume is available as an affordable, well-formatted book for e-readers and smartphones. Be sure to LOOK INSIDE by clicking the cover above or download a sample. Less