In the summer of 1862; carpenter William Bluffton Miller left his wife and infant sonand enlisted in Company K; 75th Indiana Volunteer Infantry Regiment. He began adetailed diary that for three years would record his daily activities as well as his thoughts and observations on his own experiences and the larger issues of the divisive war. Amidst the hard marching; gnawing hunger; loneliness; and personal loss; Miller and his fellow soldiers experienced the thrill of victory and the solace found in the camaraderie of the unit.Miller's varied experiences offer valuable insights into a number of aspects of theCivil War. He began his service as a hospital steward in Gallatin; Tennessee; and hevividly depicts the heart-wrenching efforts of doctors; nurses; and fellow soldiers to save and comfort the ill and wounded. In his later service; Miller records the horrific sights from some of the war's bloodiest battlefields; including Chickamaugua; where he was wounded. Upon his recovery; Miller returned to duty as a general?s orderly during the Atlanta campaign and later participated in Sherman?s March to the Sea and campaignthrough the Carolinas.Of equal interest are Miller's political observations and personal experiences. The diary shows how Miller's ideas about the war; particularly the issue of slavery; changed during the conflict. Democratic and Copperhead sympathy in the North actually strengthened his commitment to the Union effort; and Miller grew from a man who espoused the racial prejudices of his time into an antislavery advocate. Taken as a whole; Fighting for Liberty and Right is a glimpse of the daily trials of the common soldier in a divided country and a compelling portrait of a man who valued freedom for himself and for all his countrymen.
#2997235 in Books Overmountain Press 1997-01-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 .66 x 6.00 x 8.97l; #File Name: 1570720509221 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. To understand the Civil War; we need to know the thoughts of both sides. This is one such book.By john yoccoA good firsthand account written from the Confederate side of the war. It was written by a descendant of Col. Speer using his dairy letters he wrote home. The author lets you know in the beginning that Col. Speer didn't survive the war which makes a bit hard to read some of his letters to home.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy mark spenceGreat little book; fantastic read.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. More than a War MemoirBy K. Vestal"Voices from Cemetery Hill;" aptly subtitled "The Civil War Diary; Reports; and Letters of Colonel William Henry Asbury Speer;" did not entice me for its Civil War theme; but because I share my home town with both the author and Asbury Speer. Besides the familiar geographical references; however; this story surprisingly reshaped my attitude about this complex time in history. Asbury's intimate letters to his family; interwoven with diary entries; official records; and letters written by others whose stories intersected with his; paint the picture of a man; a time; a county; of great complexity; not a South vs. North picture; but a brother vs. brother; cousin against cousin; child against parent; and even the man within himself; a devoted Confederate Colonel; conflicted in spirit about the cause for which he dies.For Civil War buffs; this is a must read; for its detailed day by day accounts of life in and between the various battles and life in the POW camps. The coverage of the Bond Affair at a Yadkin County schoolhouse is especially comprehensive. This one man's war experience encompasses battles; personalities; and locations that will resonate with any Civil War reader; and emotional depth that will resonate with any human being; interested or not interested specifically in the war itself. Kudos to Allen Paul Speer for a well written and well edited historic treasure.
