Company Aytch

A Side Show of the Big Show

By: Sam Watkins

Narrated by: Dan Calhoun

Length: 8 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

This book is considered to be the best account of the Civil War ever written from the Confederate point of view. It is also the one most frequently cited by historians of the Western campaigns. Sam Watkins, a high private in the Army of Tennessee, brings a vividness and detail to his story unmatched in the genre.

©2004 Jimcin Recordings (P)2004 Jimcin Recordings

Critic reviews

"A memoir of staggering significance, wit, and beauty." (Ken Burns)

Great memoir but not great narrator

One of my favorite civil war memoirs, very unique and worth a listen. HOWEVER, there are two versions on Audible, this one has the worse of the two narrators. Pronounces a lot of words strangely and it throws me off. So get the other version (cover has a yellow background) Same book, better narrator though

Incredible insights

Where does Company Aytch rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

One of the best "true life" books.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Sam, of course.

What does Dan Calhoun bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Gave it a real sense of immediacy. Emotional when it fit.

Good story dry reading

This is a book I think all should read or listen to. I was happy to find it on audible but was a little disappointed with the voice of the reader. It took a few chapters just to get my ears able to listen and had I not read this book 20 years ago myself and known how much I enjoyed it I would have not listened any longer.

Nothing can top being there.

I listened to this book ( same edition ) before joining Audible and was blown away by it. In fact, spotting this and many other titles that I'd paid big bucks for was the reason I joined up...But back to the book - I've read many Civil War war books and this, without a doubt, was the best. Nothing can top actually being there, and being a natural storyteller, as the author is, certainly helps. Excellent readng, as well.

Great book; not-so-great reader

I am halfway through the book and am enjoying the content very much; however, I think the reader was definitely a wrong pick! I have listened to a myriad of Audible books and have never been disappointed in a reader. His reading is very word-at-a-time choppy and it is a distraction. Perhaps a southerner would have been more appropriate. Nevertheless, I am anxious to get back to finish it.

Very good story, but some nitpcks with the reading

What did you love best about Company Aytch?

I love the candid writing style of this first hand account of the war. I also really enjoyed the insight into the personality and language of the writer. I personally really appreciate his view of God. He referenced him many times as "he who does all things well".

Any additional comments?

I do not like how Dan Calhoun continually pronounces "saw" as "soar" and "cavalry" as "calvary". It's like someone in modern times saying "nuke-you-ler" instead of "new-clear" (nuclear). It's distracting but I really enjoyed the book anyway.

Company Aytch

Having read many Civil War books, this was the most eloquently written from the viewpoint of the Conderate Soldier. The reader of this book also does a great job reading. You will feel the author is speaking to you.

A Great Book, the Wrong Reader

Sam Watkins' (1st Tennessee, CSA) "Company Aytch" is one of the best accounts of the Civil War written by an eye witness. Having a Yankee reader for this Southerner's story, however, really detracted from the listening experience. The book earns a '5', but I only gave the reader '3' simply because of his obviously Yankee twang. A better 'accented' reader surley should have been found.

"Company Aytch" is considered a Classic in this genera, as well as it should be. I could not imagine a modern infantryman putting up with the privations, executions and real battle slaughter as happened during the Civil War.

The companion book to "Company Aytch" is "All For the Union", written by Elisha Hunt Rhodes (2nd Rhode Island, USA). Between the two of these men, they served through all four years of the Civil War from 1st Manassas to Appomattax, through every major engagement between North and South, and lived to tell the tale. Neither are 'Big Bugs', as Sam Watkins puts it, just a couple of plain private soldiers (although Rhodes advanced to Lt. by the war's end, while Watkins only made it to Corporal).

For a 'real' look at the Civil War, read BOTH of these books. Well Recommended!

I hung in there for Sam.

This true account, with all its terrible battles and heart renching descriptions, is read with all the emotion of a computer drone. I think it's sad that the presentation of such an important, insightful and regional text wasn't given a more thoughtful and realistic presentation.

good story - but tough to listen

I agree with other reveiwers that the book itself is excellent - very interesting to hear the perspective of a soldier smack in the middle of battles with no sense of the "whole" except what directly impacted him. Eye opening descriptions of scarce food, exectutions for desertion, mud and more mud and the sensless loss of war.
But - the narrator is terrible - he drones on and the accent (I thought it was Maine) is very distracting. Too bad that it impacts the overall presentation of a good story.