A Soldier's Story-The 145th Pennsyvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment in the Civil War

A Soldier's Story recounts the movement of the Army of the Potomac from Antietam in September 1862 until the end of the war at Appomattox in April 1865 through the eyes of a regular soldier in the 145th Pennsylvania Volunteer Regiment. The experiences of James J. Harris are aligned with corresponding national events of the Civil War. A soldier's motivations, duties, fears and difficulties are discussed . James was married just ten days before he observed the results of the Battle of Antietam. He fought with his regiment in four of the bloodiest and most critical battles of the war: Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, The Wilderness and Spotsylvania. He survived two serious illnesses and a wound received at Sailor's Creek three days before the war's end. He had relatioves living in Gettysburg whose farm was destroyed during the third day of the battle. He fought under some of the best and worst generals of the war. He experienced one of the most harrowing times in American history and after the war he went home to Erie County in Pennsylvania to raise a family and live a regular farmer's life.