2227 Soldier Life in the Union and Confederate Armies, Edited by Philip Van Doren Stern (read 29 Aug 1989) This book consists of part of a book by John D. Billings called Hard Tack and Coffee published in 1888--Billings was a Union artilleryman in the war--and a 1882 book by Carlton McCarthy--Detailed Minutiae of Soldier Life in the Army of Northern Virginia. Both tell things from an ordinary soldier's view rather idealistically, especially the Confederate story. I did not especially enjoy the book, but it had its moments. ( )