Stonewall's Cannoneer: Experiences with the Rockbridge Artillery

In this review of Stonewall's Cannoneer the reviewer finds a focused, first-person memoir that will appeal to readers interested in the Confederate experience during the American Civil War. Edward a Moore, writing as Ned Moore, delivers a clear, narrative account that keeps the Rockbridge Artillery at the center of campaigns and battles; the single biggest reason to buy is the book's continuous, eyewitness coverage of many major engagements, presented in an engaging, readable voice that places the reader near the action.

Key Features

• Firsthand campaign narrative: Moore chronicles his battery's service throughout the war, giving readers an unbroken view of the unit's movements and engagements.
• Detailed battle accounts: The memoir reports specific actions such as Kernstown, Gettysburg and Cold Harbor in plain, entertaining detail that helps readers visualize combat events.
• Regimental perspective: The Rockbridge Artillery is followed closely so the reader gains a sense of unit cohesion and repeated exposure to action rather than scattered anecdotes.
• Personal portraits: Moore describes the personalities in the battery, offering human context to the unit's wartime experience and life under fire.
• Readable prose: The writing is well structured and approachable, making complex campaigns accessible to nonacademic readers.

Who It's For

This memoir is best suited to readers of Historical military biography who want a soldier-level account of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia and the day-to-day life of an artillery battery on campaign. It works well for Civil War enthusiasts, reenactors seeking period perspective, and readers who prefer narrative memoirs over analytical military history.

Those looking for a balanced, academic study with detailed footnotes, battlefield maps, or modern historiographical analysis should look elsewhere; this book is a primary-account memoir that emphasizes experience and personal observation rather than exhaustive scholarly apparatus.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Engaging firsthand descriptions place the Rockbridge Artillery at many major battles, creating a continuous narrative thread through the war.
• Clear, entertaining detail helps readers visualize specific engagements without technical overcomplication.
• Strong focus on personalities gives the memoir emotional depth and human interest.

Cons

• As a memoir, the account lacks modern scholarly notes or extensive citations that some researchers may expect.

Specifications

Title	Stonewall's Cannoneer: Experiences with the Rockbridge Artillery
Author	Edward a Moore
Subject	Confederate artillery memoir, Army of Northern Virginia
Scope	Campaigns and battles throughout the American Civil War
Notable battles covered	Kernstown, Gettysburg, Cold Harbor, Chancellorsville, Sharpsburg and others
Focus	Personal and regimental experience of the Rockbridge Artillery

Our Verdict

Stonewall's Cannoneer is a worthwhile purchase for readers who want an immersive, soldier-level memoir of the Confederate artillery experience; its continuous coverage of a single battery across many well known battles offers narrative continuity and character detail that make it good value for enthusiasts and general readers seeking vivid firsthand storytelling.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the book cover specific battles?
Yes; Moore reports on named engagements including Kernstown, Gettysburg, Cold Harbor, Chancellorsville and Sharpsburg among others.

Is this a scholarly history with notes and maps?
No; it is a personal memoir focused on experience and narrative rather than extensive scholarly citations or battlefield maps.

Who is the narrator?
The account is written by Edward a Moore, known as Ned Moore, reflecting his service with the Rockbridge Artillery in the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia.