2227. Soldier Life in the Union and Confederate Armies, Edited by Philip Van Doren Stern (read 29 Aug 1989) This book, edited by Philip Van Doren Stern, consists of part of a book by John D. Billings called Hard Tack and Coffee published in 1888--Billings was a Union artilleryman in the war--and of a 1882 book by Carlton McCarthy entitled Detailed Minutiae of Soldier Life in the Army of Northern Virginia. Both parts tell things from an ordinary soldier's view--rather idealistic, especially the Confederate story. I did not especially enjoy the book, but it had its moments. ( )