05 - Story of a Common Soldier of Army Life in the Civil War by Leander Stillwell

At just 18 years old, Leander Stillwell was a farm boy from Illinois, living a simple life in a log cabin when the U.S. Civil War erupted. Driven by a strong sense of duty to help preserve the nation, Stillwells youthful patriotism was laced with a mix of bravado; the thought of remaining at home to toil in the fields while the sound of cannons echoed nearby was simply unbearable. In January 1861, he enlisted in the 61st Illinois Infantry. However, his romanticized view of soldiering quickly shattered at the Battle of Shiloh, where he witnessed the brutal realities of war for the first time. His vivid and personal narrative captures the chaos of battle I distinctly remember my first shot at Shiloh... The fronts of both lines were shrouded in smoke... Suddenly, someone called to me from behind, Stillwell! Shoot! Shoot! Why dont you shoot? This compelling coming-of-age story, penned later in life at the encouragement of his youngest son—when Stillwell had become a lawyer, judge, and Kansas legislator—blends graphic details from his wartime diary and letters with the reflections of a thoughtful man recalling those harrowing times, making it an engaging read for Civil War enthusiasts and autobiography lovers alike.