War years with Jeb Stuart,

Blackford started out as one of General Stuart's staff and then was detailed to the ANV Engineer Corps. He's acerbic, opinionated and occasionally thick-headed (as when he fails to notice, during the retreat to Appomattox, that anything is wrong). He gives a good description of the Battle of First Manassas and accounts of several other battles and campaigns, including Gettysburg. Although Blackford is justly best known as a Stuart chronicler, the most unique information given in the memoir is the description of how the Engineer Corps built the trenches at Petersburg. Blackford's endearing descriptions of his horses add a human touch.