Salvatore G. Cilella, Jr. is retired after a 43-year museum career and is the author/editor of several books. He lives in Atlanta, Georgia.

“Memories are fragile, malleable things, often succumbing to the temptation of embellishment and omission. Clinton Beckwith’s memoir of life in the 12st New York Infantry during the Civil War defies the convention. Detailed, lively, accurate, and complete—spanning camps and battlefields through the war’s end—this is as good a Civil War memoir as you will find. Editor Sal Cilella knows as much about the 121st New York as anyone knows about any regiment of the Civil War; his work adds context and meaning to Beckwith’s original words. This is a great and useful addition to the literature of soldiers fighting for nation and, ultimately, freedom.”—John Hennessy, chief historian at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park

• Table of ContentsAcknowledgments viPreface 1Introduction 31. Beckwith Goes for a Soldier 232. Beckwith Enlists Again 343. The Reality of War 444. “Fredericksburg, Fredericksburg!” 525. Salem Church 636. Gettysburg 757. Summer and Fall 1863 848. The Overland Campaign 959. Slaughter at Cold Harbor 11210. Saving Washington and into the Valley 12311. The Siege of Petersburg 13912. War’s End 14913. Going Home 158Chapter Notes 165Bibliography 223Index 233

Salvatore G. Cilella, Jr. is retired after a 43-year museum career and is the author/editor of several books. He lives in Atlanta, Georgia.

“Memories are fragile, malleable things, often succumbing to the temptation of embellishment and omission. Clinton Beckwith’s memoir of life in the 12st New York Infantry during the Civil War defies the convention. Detailed, lively, accurate, and complete—spanning camps and battlefields through the war’s end—this is as good a Civil War memoir as you will find. Editor Sal Cilella knows as much about the 121st New York as anyone knows about any regiment of the Civil War; his work adds context and meaning to Beckwith’s original words. This is a great and useful addition to the literature of soldiers fighting for nation and, ultimately, freedom.”—John Hennessy, chief historian at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park

• Table of ContentsAcknowledgments viPreface 1Introduction 31. Beckwith Goes for a Soldier 232. Beckwith Enlists Again 343. The Reality of War 444. “Fredericksburg, Fredericksburg!” 525. Salem Church 636. Gettysburg 757. Summer and Fall 1863 848. The Overland Campaign 959. Slaughter at Cold Harbor 11210. Saving Washington and into the Valley 12311. The Siege of Petersburg 13912. War’s End 14913. Going Home 158Chapter Notes 165Bibliography 223Index 233

Salvatore G. Cilella, Jr. is retired after a 43-year museum career and is the author/editor of several books. He lives in Atlanta, Georgia.

“Memories are fragile, malleable things, often succumbing to the temptation of embellishment and omission. Clinton Beckwith’s memoir of life in the 12st New York Infantry during the Civil War defies the convention. Detailed, lively, accurate, and complete—spanning camps and battlefields through the war’s end—this is as good a Civil War memoir as you will find. Editor Sal Cilella knows as much about the 121st New York as anyone knows about any regiment of the Civil War; his work adds context and meaning to Beckwith’s original words. This is a great and useful addition to the literature of soldiers fighting for nation and, ultimately, freedom.”—John Hennessy, chief historian at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park

• Table of ContentsAcknowledgments viPreface 1Introduction 31. Beckwith Goes for a Soldier 232. Beckwith Enlists Again 343. The Reality of War 444. “Fredericksburg, Fredericksburg!” 525. Salem Church 636. Gettysburg 757. Summer and Fall 1863 848. The Overland Campaign 959. Slaughter at Cold Harbor 11210. Saving Washington and into the Valley 12311. The Siege of Petersburg 13912. War’s End 14913. Going Home 158Chapter Notes 165Bibliography 223Index 233