The book consists of letters a Vermont soldier sent home from the Civil War. Darius Duty Priest was a thirty-four year old father of four when he went to war to save the Union, look out for his younger brother, and have an adventure. His first battle was the Northern debacle of First Bull Run, and he was in many battles until being severely wounded at Spotsylvania a month before his enlistments was up. DDP was a keen observer and wrote vividly of his experiences, including commentary on the new places and people he saw. Although he did not have a great deal of formal education, he was a voracious reader, which is evident in his ability to put his views on the the subject of the Civil War and life as a soldier on paper.