Berry Benson's Civil War Book: Memoirs of a Confederate Scout and Sharpshooter

by Berry Benson

Book Overview

Confederate scout and sharpshooter Berry Greenwood Benson witnessed the first shot fired on Fort Sumter, retreated with Lee's Army to its surrender at Appomattox Courthouse, and missed little of the action in between. This classic account of his wartime service tells of his reconnaissance exploits, battlefield experiences, capture by Union forces, and famous escape from Elmira Prison. A new biographical introduction by historian Edward J. Cashin...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0820329436
• ISBN13: 9780820329437
• Release Date: April 2007
• Publisher: University of Georgia Press
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 7.3" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

A soldier's story

From the point of view of the enlisted man, this is a really good book. It held my interest well. Let's face it, the enlisted man's perspective of the War Between the States, or any war for that matter, is going to be very narrow. The rank and file do not have the luxury of having access to the grand strategy of general officers. All they can relate is what went on in front of them. Otherwise it wouldn't be their story. This book is about what one common soldier saw, experienced, and felt. And it let me see a refreshing point of view.

Excellent memoir

The editors of many Civil War memoirs gush about the heroism of the authors. But in too many cases, when you turn off the moonlight and toss out the faded magnolias, you're not left with much. That's not the case here. Berry Benson, who spent much of the war detailed as a sharpshooter, was well-spoken, tough, brave and endlessly inventive. A good deal of his memoir is taken up with his Energizer Bunny-like repeat attempts to escape from Federal prisons. He writes his memoir well, with a degree of structure unusual in Civil War memoirs; and when he doesn't remember exactly what happened, he says so. Though he missed the battle of Gettysburg, he appends wonderfully written, humorous letters from his brother, who didn't -- this seems to have been a talented family, over all. Particular high points of this memoir include the prison escapes, as well as the detailed account of what Benson's unit did at Hatcher's Run; he's also quite vivid on Appomattox -- where, readers will note, Sgt. Benson eschewed surrender.

The Unsurrendered Confederate

This is without a doubt the best memoir I've ever read. Berry Benson signs up with the 1st South Carolina before the war starts and is there to take place in the battle for Fort Sumter, fights in every major campaign in Virginia and Maryland and fights for his beloved 'red banner' up until the Confederate retreat from Richmond and the surrender at Appomatox. Benson refuses to Surrender and with brother they head on to North Carlolina in hopes of meetting up with other Confederate forces. For the novice of Civil War history, or the expert, Benson gives the reader a true feeling for what it was like in the ranks of the Confederate army, his escape from Point Lookout Prison and Elmira Prison will keep the reader at the edge of their seat. His description of the food, uniforms and marching will bring you back to the 1860's. The Benson story is extrodinary and even those who knew Benson during the war say that although the stories seem unbelievable, they are all well documented. If you have a friend who loves the Civil War (north or south) this is the book for them! By the way, his 'unsurrendered musket' and photo are on display at the Confederate Relic Room in South Carolina.

Informative and captivating diary of a Confederate Soldier

Berry Benson's personal diary of his soldiering during the Civil War is unfortunately too overlooked by Civil War readers. benson's diary of his days as a sniper for the Confederacy is filled with amusing tales of camp life, horrifying views of battle and personal strength as he endured life as a POW in Elmira, NY and his ability to return back to his regiment after travelling hundreds of miles through Union territory.This is one of the few diaries of the Civil War that will grip the readers interest from the first page to the last.

worth every penny

i would recommend this book to anybody with the slightest interest in the war between the states. from Sumter to Elmira (one of the greatest, true pow escape accounts you'll ever hear) to Appomattox, Berry Benson and his brother Blackwood were there, fervently defending the Southern cause. Considering he only intended these memoires to be passed down among his family, Benson's firsthand account of the war is priceless and intensely entertaining. no kidding, read this book...