The First and Second Rockbridge Artillery batteries held a special fascination for the author. "The exploits of the First are widely known. The Second saw equally hard service and distinguished itself as well."
"The First contained perhaps the best-educated group of men in the state to serve throughout the war. They left a large legacy of written material concerning the unit and the men in it. The history of the First is therefore longer and in more detail.
The saga of the Second had to be written using bur few original sources. No after-action reports of the battery commanders have been found and but a few accounts by its members exist. Therefore the history of the Second is shorter, but no less heroic."
Muster rolls sourced mainly from the Compiled Service Records in the National Archives, which contain information on the date and place of enlistment, hospital, prisoner of war, clothing and equipment receipts, and other miscellaneous materials are included, as well as the ages, prewar and postwar occupations, and domiciles of former soldiers. This work also offers photographs of several soldiers, as well as several maps and a bibliography.