'Co. Aytch,' Maury Grays, First Tennessee Regiment or, A Side Show of the Big S…


Read by Winston Tharp

(4.8 stars; 150 reviews)

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....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. (Introduction from Wikipedia) (8 hr 3 min)

Chapters

00 - Preface 2:13 Read by Winston Tharp
01 - Retrospective 49:35 Read by Winston Tharp
02 - Shiloh 12:23 Read by Winston Tharp
03 - Corinth 17:44 Read by Winston Tharp
04 - Tupelo 6:45 Read by Winston Tharp
05 - Kentucky 31:35 Read by Winston Tharp
06 - Murfreesboro 12:17 Read by Winston Tharp
07 - Shelbyville 21:25 Read by Winston Tharp
08 - Chattanooga 32:30 Read by Winston Tharp
09 - Chickamauga 8:55 Read by Winston Tharp
10 - Missionary Ridge 26:28 Read by Winston Tharp
11 - Dalton 36:32 Read by Winston Tharp
12 - Hundred Days Battle 1:03:37 Read by Winston Tharp
13 - Atlanta 1:11:50 Read by Winston Tharp
14 - Jonesboro 36:39 Read by Winston Tharp
15 - Advance into Tennessee 12:06 Read by Winston Tharp
16 - Battles in Tennessee 28:20 Read by Winston Tharp
17 - The Surrender 12:49 Read by Winston Tharp

Reviews

Highest rating - one of the best books on Librivox


(5 stars)

One of the very best books on Librivox, and one of the best war memoirs ever written. It's really one of the best anti-war memoirs ever written because it describes the unvarnished brutality and horror behind the fancy slogans and songs that they trot out to marshal up the canon fodder for their wars. It was written by an ordinary private who fought for the CSA in the Civil War, in the First Tennessee Infantry. Of the 1,200 men who fought for the First Tennessee only 65 were left at the end. Winston Tharp's reading is superb, one of Librivox' best, perfect.

One of my favorite reads!


(5 stars)

I've read this book many times, as I have always been fascinated by the Great War. Winston Tharp did an excellent job reading this book, I felt as if it was Sam Watkins himself telling his story. I plan to listen to this one many more times!

Favorite primary source of the Civil War


(5 stars)

Excellent book! A beautiful mingling of the sad, sweet, funny, and mundane incidents in the life of a soldier of the Confederate army. Recommended for any history buff. Probably one of my most favorite primary sources of the Civil War.

Exceptional narrative, beautifully read


(5 stars)

The writing is Exceptional and the reader captures every feeling and matches his cadence and tone with every scene. Excellent in every way, highly recommend, I’m sure I’ll listen to this again.

upon completion, I was showing symptoms of “amazing storyitus”


(5 stars)

The audio version quotes 8hrs and some crooked lesser numbers. This was started as the was rising and I would write this review on the same day and date but 9-10 hours later in the day. I guarantee unless I hand this to the office in person; that the wife will find it not deliver it to make me think the recipient possibly never gotten it? Or crashed or etc to what end or why? Idk. Im convinced she is jealous of the time and care I put into civil war history VS her

Every Congress Member would benefit


(5 stars)

This is a recording that every Congress member and Congressional Staff member and every State politician and every Media reporter and every political pundit and every Civil Rights activist and every College and University professor and instructor and every Federal and State employee and every School personnel member and every student from 7th grade to graduate school ... and especially every Community Organizer ... should listen to at least half a dozen times! This recording should be broadcast throughout the USA and the entire world!


(4 stars)

It was a good book. It really shows what happened during the war. At least from a Privates POV. The reader did very well. He had a soothing voice as well. I enjoyed this book.

the best memoirist of them all


(5 stars)

Sam tells it like it was. Be sure to write your own history, dear reader, and may Mr. Watkins be your muse and guide.