"The 3rd & 9th Texas Cavalry: The War Between The States As I Saw It." by Allison W. Sparks is a first hand memoir of the American Civil experience of a private Confederate soldier.
Sparks 1841-1912 who was nicknamed "Tuck" was raised in Cypress, Texas & is buried in Cypress Cemetery in Franklin County. He and his brother, Butch Sparks joined the "Titus Greys" as soon as the war broke out, serving in Company I, 9th Texas Cavalry Regiment. He is self-described as, "a mere boy in his sunny teens", who is a common farmer boy with only enough education to read and write. After the war, "Tuck," returned to Cypress, Texas where he worked as a farmer, schoolteacher and stock raiser. He married Fanny Turner in 1869 and died in 1912 leaving his wife and three children.
Despite his formal educational shortcomings, which show up in long run-on sentences & spotty grammar, he wrote a 398-page book including reports on the battles and skirmishes, which was also a very personal view of the very bloody Civil War. He wrote of the personalities of the men he encountered, military and otherwise. The book gives a complete picture of the day-to-day activities, hardships and struggles of the common Confederate soldier. Sparks' purpose in his own words, "To disabuse the minds of our children, who have been taught that we, in the Great War, were rebels and engaged in rebellion against the United States. And her laws, for it is not uncommon, even among collegiate, for such erroneous belief to exist." He continues: "...not children of rebels…but children of patriots, law loving, law abiding and law defending patriots…fought for the constitution, for liberty, and for the right and who are proud of their record."
Very scarce in its original binding. A must read for both the student of the life & experiences of the common Confederate soldier as well as the student of military history.
There are approximately 120,875+ words and approximately 402+ pages at 300 words per page in this e-book.
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