<p> Mostly cheerful and optimistic in tone, these missives include sketches of the battles in which Huger participated and fair and honest opinions of his superiors and fellow soldiers, including harsh criticism of generals Braxton Bragg and James Longstreet. Huger also declares his frustration with technical artillery problems and his appetite for the charms of young women at home. The colonel's correspondence offers insights into the day-to-day life of an artillery man in Virginia and Tennessee and reveals the trials and triumphs of one patriotic family during wartime. An informative introduction details his family background, his education at West Point, and his postwar career as a railroad executive.</p>