Army Life in a Black Regiment vs Memoranda during the war: Which Should You Read?

Both live on shelves: United States Civil War, Personal narratives, United States, Biography & Memoir, History

Army Life in a Black Regiment Thomas Wentworth Higginson · 1870 ★★★★☆ 3.9 232 pages · ≈ 4 h 18 m · Challenging

"Army Life in a Black Regiment has some claim to be the best written narrative to come from the Union [side] during the Civil War," wrote historian Henry Steele Commander. "Higginson's picture of the battle which was…

Soldiers Nonfiction

Find on Amazon More like this →

Memoranda during the war Walt Whitman · 1876 ★★★★☆ 3.8 68 pages · ≈ 1 h 16 m · Demanding

“DURING the Union War I commenced at the close of 1862, and continued steadily through '63, '64, and '65, to visit the sick and wounded of the Army, both on the field and in the Hospitals in and around Washington city.”

"In December of 1862, having read his brother's name in a casualty list, Walt Whitman rushed from Brooklyn to the war front, where he found his brother wounded but recovering. But Whitman also found there a "new world,"…

Hospitals American Poets 19th Century Assassination

Find on Amazon More like this →

Side by side

The verdict

Ratings are close across the board — any is a safe pick by score.
Memoranda during the war is the quickest read — about 1 hours vs 4 for Army Life in a Black Regiment.
Memoranda during the war has the widest readership — 192 ratings behind its score.

Army Life in a Black Regiment: Check price →Memoranda during the war: Check price →

Affiliate links: we may earn a commission on purchases.

How to choose

Want a one-evening read? Memoranda during the war ≈ 1h vs 4h for Army Life in a Black Regiment New to the genre? Army Life in a Black Regiment Challenging vs Demanding for Memoranda during the war

Scores by source

	Army Life in a Black Regiment	Memoranda during the war
Goodreads	3.9 (117)	3.9 (192)
	Check price →	Check price →

Reception

	Army Life in a Black Regiment	Memoranda during the war
Ratings	117	192
Editions	104	11
Want to read	222	38
Reading it now	89	—
Written reviews	23	7
Pages	232	68
	Check price →	Check price →

Questions readers ask

Which is rated higher: Army Life in a Black Regiment or Memoranda during the war?

Army Life in a Black Regiment has the higher combined reader rating across sources (Army Life in a Black Regiment 3.9/5, Memoranda during the war 3.8/5).

Which is shorter to read: Army Life in a Black Regiment or Memoranda during the war?

Memoranda during the war is the quickest read. Estimated at 225 words per minute: Memoranda during the war (68 pages, ≈ 1 h 16 m); Army Life in a Black Regiment (232 pages, ≈ 4 h 18 m).

Which is harder to read: Army Life in a Black Regiment or Memoranda during the war?

Estimated difficulty, based on era, reader shelves and length — Army Life in a Black Regiment: Challenging; Memoranda during the war: Demanding.