Corporal Si Klegg and His "Pard": How They Lived and Talked and What They Did and Suffered, While Fighting for the Flag
by Wilbur F. Hinman

I just finished this book about a week ago.  It is a good read and moves along quickly.  The stories are those that anyone who has been reenacting or the real service a while can say wow.. I think I know that feeling.

The book follows Si Klegg on his adventures from recruit to veteran and post-war.  It is a fictional soldier and regiment based upon the real life experiences of the author who served from 1861 until the end of the war.

There are illustrations that go with some of the moments.

Personally I think this book is a must have for any reenactor in his library and one that a new recruit should read along with "Hardtack and Coffee" by John Billings.

Some years ago, maybe 20, Camp Chase Gazette printed Si Klegg in serial form as part of the magazine, so it became a common part of reenactor lore, and if memory serves me, the original was printed as a serial, too. Today, after the usual electricity outtage whenever we get a gust of wind in Maryland (thank God the lines are underground) I lit a couple of candles, and started re-reading Si Klegg for about the umpteenth time. Some of the dialect that was annoying when I first read it, is darned funny now. I guess things do change over time. My copy is not an original, but a nice reprint from about 10 years ago. As you said, this is one of those foundation books on the reading list.

I also found a quote I needed to footnote for yet another writing project, so serendipity ruled the day!  

Quote :

Charles Heath wrote :  Some of the dialect that was annoying when I first read it, is darned funny now.

I actually found that saying the dialoug outloud helped with understanding what they were saying.  

I had read another book on a different topic but it was written in the Appalachin dialect, so I had to do something similiar to make sure I understood what was being said.

Wonder if these dialect writing guys got the idea from Rudyard Kipling?  He was a master of it.

I tried to read it this past winter for the first time and after about 40 pages or so, I had to put it down. I just could not get into the flow of the dialogue. Maybe I'll try it again later with a different perspective in mind about understanding it.

A lot of my reenactor friends pointed me towards it and said it was "a must read" and "very enjoyable" as well as "humorous." I get through books rather quickly and I think that is why I didn't take to this one because it really slowed me down. It reminded me of trying to read Shakesphere because of how difficult the diaglogue was to understand.

I made it through "Ulysses" with considerable ease after the first 100 pages so I thought I was ready for ANYTHING. How wrong that assumption was.