Army Life According to Arbaw

“Army Life According to Arbaw” is a book length Civil War soldier’s narrative that presents a well written and insightful view of army life as viewed by William A. Brand of the 66th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Brand, whose missives were published under the nom-de-plume “D.N. Arbaw” by the Urbana Citizen & Gazette, wrote frequent letters that provide a detailed view of his regiment’s experiences with both the Army of the Potomac and the Army of the Cumberland. Eighty-two of his wartime letters are included in this book. Early in the war he was detailed to the quartermaster’s department of the regiment to assist his father who was the regimental quartermaster. As such, Brand's military family was the leadership of the regiment, and he described the campaigns and battles in which his regiment participated from this perspective; yet his depictions of combat and life in camp are striking for their power and immediacy.