Col. Frank Huger, C.S.A.: The Civil War Letters of a Confederate Artillery Officer

Throughout the Civil War, Confederate artillery officer Colonel Frank Huger wrote letters prolifically to members of his prominent South Carolina family, including his father and two brothers, all soldiers in the Trans-Mississippi region.

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.

The late Frank Huger was a Confederate officer who served as a railroad executive in his postwar years.
Thomas K. Tate is the author of two Civil War biographies and numerous articles. He lives in Orefield, Pennsylvania.