"This collection, consisting of over 180 letters and hundreds of drawings, covers Reed's period of service (1862-65) and provides the modern reader a wealth of information on the role of the Union army in the eastern theater, the events in the life of the Civil War soldier, and the war in general.".

"Reed's letters chronicle events, from the most common to the extraordinary, with simple yet thoughtful eloquence. His drawings capture both the mundane details of life in camp and the stirring events in which he participated. His talent was considered equal to that of the leading newspaper artists of his day, and his drawings were used to illustrate a best-selling Civil War book, Hardtack and Coffee (1887).

We are fortunate that Reed's writings and drawings have been preserved, and can be presented here in a single volume."--BOOK JACKET.