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Book Review for Chief Stan Boring

This is a book review written by another WTBS author. Most of his book reviews are about Hood's Texas Brigade, especially the 1st TX Infantry.

Feed Them the Steel! Being, the Wartime Recollections of Capt James Lile Lemon, Co A, 18th Georgia Infantry, CSA." Edited by Mark Lemon, Self Publisher, 2013, 98 pages. Captain Lemon's Great-Great Grandson Mark Lemon discovered Captain Lemon's hand written memoir's of his recollections of the Civil War while serving in the 18th Georgia Regiment and fought in the major battles of the eastern theater of the war in the Army of Northern Virginia. Captain Lemon's recollection are riveting, giving great details of the regiment and how it was formed, everyday camp life, being in the great battles first under Hood's Texas Brigade, then later detached to Cobb's Georgia Brigade. This is an EXCELLENT memoir and it includes how the regiment was clothed originally from state militia uniforms to the forming of receiving long coats trousers of gray wool with black facings, the gray caps that the men wore throughout the war. Captain Lemon's descriptions of the battles from Gaines Mill, Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Salem Church, the Gettysburg Campaign, and the battles of the western theater not only does the Captain give detailed and at times gruesome details of the bloody clashes, but he also drew maps of where the 18th Georgia fought and the regiments beside the regiment and the enemy they faced. Captain Lemon was wounded was captured in Knoxville, Tennessee and spent the rest of the war as a POW and was sent first to Fort Delaware then later to Morris Island. His description of being a POW is detailed in everyday prisoner life and the friends he made as a POW in both the Confederate prisoners and some gallant officers in the Union who cared for him when he was wounded. He did try to escape from captivity but was not successful.
Later he would return to his family in Georgia and passed away on June 12, 1907. He had participated in and lived through the savage combat of the war, suffered torture and harsh conditions as a prisoner of war, but survived and raised a prominent and large family and he did help rebuild his war savaged community.
Mark Lemon has edited an excellent tribute to his Great Great Grandfather. This includes pictures, great illustrations by Mr. Lemon, an excellent forward, introduction, and epilogue.
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the history of the Eighteenth Georgia Infantry Regiment, Army of Northern Virginia, Hood's Texas Brigade, Cobb's Georgia Brigade, battles of the Eastern Theater of the War, Georgia Confederate and Post-Belem life, and Confederate Military History. A GREAT READ!

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Book Review for Chief Stan Boring
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