Rebel Private Front and Rear is a line soldier's account of the Civil War without heroics. Private Fletcher tells how at Gettysburg he was overcome by a "bad case of cowardly horror" when an order came on the third day to get ready to charge. "I tried to force manhood to the front, but fright would drive it back with a shudder," he confessed. The attack of jitters lasted about fifteen minutes, and then he fell asleep while awaiting the order to advance.

But Fletcher could be brave to a fault. He was restless and venturesome and during the lulls between fighting would...