A Mississippi Rebel in the Army of Northern Virginia: The Civil War Memoirs of Private David Holt

This was a very entertaining and enlightening read that gives todays reader a true perspective of what the war was really like for a young private (even if a privileged young private) in the Confederate Army. More importantly Pvt. Holt’s story serves to reinforce the fact that while slavery was an issue, it was not what the war was really about nor was it the reason over 300,000 southerners willingly fought and died.Pvt. Holt’s story offers glimpses of the truth regarding the South’s struggle for independence from the tyranny of an all-powerful centralized government. History does have a way of repeating itself.

Excellent read told by a private who served with the 16th Mississippi. From Jackson's Valley campaign to the Bloody Angle at Spotsylvania to the Crater to his capture defending the Whedon Railroad to is an entertaining and lively account of a "boy" who enlisted at age 17 and survived some of the fiercest fighting of the war.

I got this book because it was written by my Great x4 grandfather. As a first person history of the war it was actually pretty good.

Enjoyed following the life of this 1800s soldier from childhood to his senior years.Gives one a good perspective, a look if you will into the daily life of a civil war soldier on campaign.

I have really enjoyed this book. My ancestors were in the 16th MS Infantry and it lets me get a small picture of how it really was for them.