This is the Memoir of William L. Truman, my Great-Grandfather. He served as a member of the 1st Missouri Light Artillery, CSA (known at various times as Wade's Battery, Walsh's Battery or Guibor's Battery) from December 1861 thru May 1865. Significant battles included Elkhorn Tavern (Pea Ridge), Iuka, Corinth, the Vicksburg Campaign of 1863, the Atlanta Campaign, and Hood's Tennessee Campaign of 1864 (notably the Battle of Franklin).

The Memoir was dictated in 1906 from his diary and memory, so reflects the disadvantages and attitudes of intervening years. I have transcribed it from the original typewritten script as best I can, preserving the spelling and word usage except when changes are needed to aid comprehension. Chapter divisions and titles are my own, as he used none. Notes are added in some chapters as needed to clarify his errors or misconceptions of facts. The extensive quotes from Bevier, French and Maury have not yet been cross-checked with reprints of their books, so any cited pages may vary.

I have prepared a map which can be used to approximately locate most of the places mentioned in the memoir. It is on the Biographical data page, which will open in a separate window so you can cross reference if you desire.

The original typescript and all future reprint or quote rights have been donated to the State Historical Society of Missouri. I cannot grant any reprint or republish rights.