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


Read by Winston Tharp

(4.8 stars; 184 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!

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.

Haunting memoir of a cruel war


(5 stars)

I think it’s a must-read memoir for anyone who is interested in the American Civil War or even any war. The vivid experience from an average soldier’s point view is rare to see, not to mention Mr. Watkins’s gifted storytelling. It is poignant, sad, and haunting. The audio narrator did a fantastic job; it frequently made me hallucinate that I was listening to grandpa Watkins himself .

Well Done


(5 stars)

I had an ancestor in the Confederate army hailing from the same Tennessee county as Sam Watkins. This memoir wonderfully captures the experience of the common solider, which was full of monotony, humor, and an overwhelming amount of carnage and death. As Sam said, "It was an unholy and uncalled for war." The reader does an excellent job recounting Sam's words.

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.


(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.


(5 stars)

The reader is outstanding. And the recollections of this very articulate and sometimes cynical Confederate private are an interesting contrast to Mary Chestnut's A Diary From Dixie, another excellent selection.