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In his 1990 documentary, The Civil War, Ken Burns quoted extensively from this famous memoir of an ordinary soldier in the Confederate Army, Samuel Rush Watkins. Published two decades after the war ended, Watkins' original book was entitled, "Co. Aytch" Maurys Grays, First Tennessee Regiment; or, A Side Show of the Big Show. Watkins was 21 years old when he enlisted in April 1861 in Company H of the First Tennessee Infantry Regiment. "He does not seem to have held strong beliefs on the issue of slavery, and he owned no slaves himself," writes the editor in her introduction. "He fought not to defend slavery, but to defend Tennessee. Watkins believed in the principle of states' rights." Watkins' account of the travails of a Confederate foot soldier is vivid, memorable and unpretentious.

[Non-Sequitur]

"He fought not to defend slavery, but to defend Tennessee.

Watkins didn't start the war, his rebel leadership did. They were motivated by what they saw as a need to defend their institution of slavery.

Watkins believed in the principle of states' rights."

State's right to do what?

Watkins' account of the travails of a Confederate foot soldier is vivid, memorable and unpretentious.

I know, I read it.