The Twelve Month's Volunteer - Recollections of a 1st Tennessee

In this review of The Twelve Month's Volunteer readers will find a clear, firsthand Civil War-era account that actually predates the Civil War: it covers the Mexican War from the viewpoint of a mounted American soldier. The bottom line: this volume is for history readers and collectors who value contemporary narration and regimental detail. The author's role as a member of Company G, 1st Tennessee Cavalry, gives the book authentic battlefield perspective and lively anecdotal passages that make it valuable to those seeking primary-source insight rather than a modern synthesized history.

Key Features

• Firsthand soldier account: The author writes from direct experience as a Twelve Months Volunteer, offering vivid, on-the-ground descriptions of campaigns and daily life.
• Regimental detail: The book includes rolls and casualty lists that provide concrete personnel information useful to researchers and genealogists.
• Campaign overview: The narrative combines personal anecdotes with a broader examination of the causes and terrain of the Mexican War, helping readers place episodes in context.
• Dialogue and anecdotes: Immediate dialogue and entertaining anecdotal material bring the period and soldier interactions to life for modern readers.
• Two-volume edition: This modern edition is divided into Volume 1 and its companion, making long material more approachable for reading and study.

Who It's For

This volume is aimed at Civil War era collectors, military history enthusiasts, and genealogists who want primary-source narratives of 19th century American conflicts. Readers who appreciate soldier memoirs and regimental records will find the mix of personal recollection and rolling lists especially rewarding.

It is less well suited to those seeking a concise academic synthesis or a modern reinterpretation with extensive footnoting; readers wanting heavily edited, contemporary analysis should look to modern military histories rather than this original recollection.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Authentic voice of a mounted American cavalryman offers engaging firsthand perspective.
• Includes regimental rolls and casualty lists that are practical for research and reference.
• Balanced view mixing campaign overview, terrain description, and personal anecdote.

Cons

• The narrative can be uneven for readers expecting a modern annotated history rather than a personal recollection.

Specifications

Title	The Twelve Month's Volunteer: the Recollections of a Member of the 1st Tennessee Cavalry During the Mexican War - Volume 1 1846
Author / Brand	George C Furber
Unit	Member of Company G, 1st Tennessee Cavalry (Eagle Guards)
Content Type	Firsthand memoir with regimental rolls and casualty lists
Edition	Modern edition divided into two volumes (this is Volume 1)
Subject	Mexican War; campaign, causes, terrain, and soldier life

Our Verdict

For collectors and readers who value original soldier narratives, this volume is a worthwhile acquisition because it combines campaign context with lively firsthand reporting and useful regimental records. It represents good value for anyone researching the Mexican War or seeking a vivid cavalryman's perspective, though casual readers seeking modern analysis may prefer a different work.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this a primary source?
Yes. The text is a firsthand recollection written by a member of the 1st Tennessee Cavalry and includes contemporary rolls and lists.

Does this edition include both volumes?
This listing is for Volume 1 of a modern edition that has been divided into two volumes; the companion covers the remainder of the material.

Who benefits from the regimental lists?
Genealogists and researchers benefit most, as the rolls and casualty lists give concrete names and unit details.