The Story of a Cannoneer Under Stonewall Jackson: In Which is Told the Part Taken by the Rockbridge Artillery in the Army of Northern Virginia

In Short

This memoir offers an intimate, ground-level account of the American Civil War as experienced by a member of the Rockbridge Artillery. Following the battery’s service from the early days of 1861 through the surrender at Appomattox, the narrative focuses less on grand strategy and more on the visceral reality of life under Stonewall Jackson. By blending tactical descriptions with candid reflections on hunger, exhaustion, and the profound loss of comrades, the work serves as a lasting testament to the experiences of the common soldier, grounded in the specific, unvarnished history of his unit.

The Story

The narrative begins in Lexington, Virginia, where the atmosphere of early patriotic fervor soon gives way to the harsh realities of military service. The author, a young student, joins the Rockbridge Artillery, a unit noted for its high proportion of educated men. His initiation is abrupt; the confusion of the Battle of Kernstown and the subsequent retreat teach him the terrifying mechanics of combat. As the battery moves through the Shenandoah Valley, the cycle of marching and fighting becomes all-consuming. He recounts the relentless pressure of Jackson’s campaigns, where the battery is frequently called upon to hold critical positions against superior numbers.

As the war progresses, the narrative moves from the Valley to the brutal fields of the Peninsula, Second Manassas, and Antietam. The author describes the transition from initial, idealistic encounters to the grinding attrition of a protracted struggle. His account of the Second Battle of Manassas highlights the logistical and emotional toll of the conflict, where the sudden death of a horse or a comrade becomes a recurring, jarring fact of life. He remains honest about his own fears, describing a visceral, physical apprehension that often precedes the smoke and roar of the guns.

Following the defeat at Sharpsburg and the winter quarters near Fredericksburg, the narrative captures the widening gap between the soldiers' continued dedication and the deteriorating reality of the Confederate cause. He details the severe scarcity of food, the prevalence of desertion, and the growing sense of hopelessness that permeates the camps. Despite this, he illustrates the strange resilience of the men, who find ways to maintain a semblance of normalcy—through music, games, or the simple camaraderie of a shared fire.

The final chapters trace the inevitable decline of the Army of Northern Virginia. The author describes the grueling, final maneuvers leading up to Appomattox. Yet, even in these closing stages, he maintains a focus on the personal: the scramble to secure a horse for the journey home, the bureaucratic absurdity of seeking a parole, and the quiet relief of the final surrender. The memoir concludes not with a defense of the politics of the war, but with a record of the men who fought it. By providing an appendix of the battery's rolls and casualties, he attempts to anchor his personal memories in the collective history of his comrades, ensuring that the names of the dead and the survivors are preserved.

How It Unfolds

The initiation of a soldier The author recounts his transition from college life to the front lines, highlighting the shock of his first engagement under fire. He describes the immediate physical and psychological impact of seeing men and horses torn apart by artillery shells.

The valley campaigns The narrative tracks the relentless marching and frequent skirmishes through the Shenandoah Valley under Jackson. These chapters establish the battery's reputation for mobility and the grueling nature of constant movement.

The shift to major battles The focus expands to larger confrontations, including Second Manassas and the intense fighting at Antietam. Here, the author details the logistical challenges of keeping guns supplied and the emotional strain of witnessing family and friends fall in combat.

The long decline As the war shifts into its final, desperate phases, the account details the struggle for sustenance and the psychological weight of dwindling resources. He highlights the contrast between the soldiers' continued efforts and the clear signs of the Confederacy’s impending collapse.

The end of the line The final movement to Appomattox is marked by a frantic search for the means to return home. The narrative concludes with the practical process of surrender and the author’s transition back to civilian life and education.

The People

Edward Alexander Moore, the narrator, seeks to provide an accurate record of his unit. He evolves from an idealistic recruit into a hardened veteran, yet he retains a thoughtful, observant perspective that differentiates him from more strident chroniclers. He is wary of the trauma of war, suggesting that men should avoid serving in units with their own kin to avoid the specific agony of watching family members die.

Stonewall Jackson looms as the central, demanding authority figure. He is characterized by his relentless tactical drive, often placing the battery in harm's way without hesitation. His presence is felt through his orders and his direct, often blunt, interactions with the men.

Captain W. T. Poague and Archibald Graham emerge as the primary professional mentors. They represent the competence and grit required to keep the battery effective, even as their own men are lost to the conflict. Their leadership is measured by their ability to remain calm under fire and to maintain order in the face of chaos.

The "messmates" and fellow cannoneers form the emotional core of the book. These men—some college graduates, some farmers—are defined by their humor in the face of hunger and their shared, stoic endurance. They are not caricatures but individual men, each struggling with the same fears and the same physical deprivation.

In Its Own Voice

The concussion knocked me to my knees, and my comrade sprawling on the ground. We then began to feel that we were "going in," and a most weakening effect it had on the stomach.

The author describes the immediate physical reaction to the onset of his first intense artillery bombardment.

I would suggest to any young man when enlisting to select a company in which he has no near kindred. The concern as to one's own person affords sufficient entertainment, without being kept in suspense as to who went down when a shell explodes in proximity to another member of the family.

Reflecting on the loss of his brother and other relatives in battle, he offers a sobering warning about the emotional cost of serving alongside family.

What It's Really About

The central theme is the disparity between the romanticized notion of war and the mundane, brutal reality of the artillery service. The author argues that the true history of the conflict is found in the daily struggle for survival—the exhaustion of the march, the scarcity of bread, and the specific sensory experiences of the battlefield. It is an exploration of the limits of human endurance and the psychological coping mechanisms required to survive repeated exposure to lethal force. Ultimately, it questions the meaning of sacrifice, balancing the soldier’s devotion to his cause against the crushing reality of what that devotion costs the individual and his community.

Why Read It Today

Readers interested in the granular, day-to-day experience of the Civil War will find this account invaluable. It lacks the detached perspective of modern historians, instead offering the immediate, sensory-rich observations of a participant. Because the author writes from the perspective of an educated man who found himself ill-suited for the violence of war, the book avoids the chest-thumping bravado often found in period memoirs.

However, readers should be prepared for the realities of its publication date—1907—which influences both the prose style and the period-specific attitudes toward the conflict. The language is formal and occasionally ornate, typical of the era, and the author maintains a clear loyalty to the Confederate cause, which informs his narrative voice. While the book contains moments of humor, such as the anecdote regarding a smuggled goose egg, it remains a heavy, often somber read, marked by the frequent, stark descriptions of death. It is best approached as a window into the mind of a specific generation of Southern men, providing a vivid, albeit subjective, view of the human cost of the conflict. It stays with the reader as a reminder of the quiet, terrible tenacity required to march into fire for years on end, and the profound, silent relief that accompanied the final end of the fighting.