Soldiering

Rice C. Bull was a Union private that documented his soldier life from being a raw recruit in 1862 to final muster in 1865. Rice covers his involvement with the 123rd New York Infantry of the 12th Corps, Army of the Potomac. Bull defines the daily life of soldiering he sees firsthand from learning drill, getting acclimated to army living and eventually facing the enemy in battle. Bull brings forth the carnage and despair faced by many soldiers in combat at Chancellorsville as he is wounded and his diary comes to life as he brings the horrors of war to the reader. Wounded and taken prisoner, Bull allows us to learn about just what was going through his mind and how others suffered with him. Bull follows the 12th Corps to Gettysburg and then south to join Sherman's Army that eventually becomes involved in the famous "March To The Sea". Bull brings home the interesting tale of this march and how the army on a daily basis foraged, marched, skirmished and camped. To appreciate the daily soldier grind this book I completely recommend!