Authentic, presumptuous?

This is a valuable resource, as is every first person account from this time period. At the same time, the smallness of Wilkeson’s perspective limits the usefulness of this story. He blames West Point for causing all problems in the war. He relates how low-level soldiers complained about their superior officers, without quantifying whether or not what he thought about the best course of action would actually have been better. Overall, Wilkeson comes across as a personally competent but small-minded whiner. There are better autobiographies out there.