According to Lt. Edmund Patterson of the 9th Alabama Infantry, “one knows...nothing at all about [combat] until he has participated in it.” Patterson’s observations and a host of others by soldiers of the North and South shed some light on the subject of Civil War battles and the conduct and experiences of the soldiers who fought them in . Historian Greg Coco’s expert handling of the material conveys what food they ate, the uniforms they wore, the equipment and weapons they carried and used, and much more. The themes cover everything from recruitment, training, and marches, to camp life, combat, and mustering out. Soldiers discuss wounds, field hospitals, and burials of friends and foe alike. A handy guide and refresher for veteran campaigners and new readers alike.