In and Out of Rebel Prisons

Through a steady hand and a soldier’s eye, this memoir pulls listeners into the cramped, often bleak world of Union officers held in Confederate prisons during the Civil War. The author, a lieutenant of the 12th New York Cavalry, records ten months of daily life with frank detail—ranging from the cramped quarters and scarce rations to the moments of camaraderie that kept morale alive. While he does not shy away from the cruelty of the camp system, his tone remains steady, offering a measured critique of the officials who oversaw the suffering.

The narrative takes a dramatic turn when the officer, aided by a generous comrade, makes a daring escape and embarks on a three‑hundred‑mile trek across hostile territory. Along the way he describes the landscape, the constant threat of capture, and the resilience that carried him forward when his strength began to fail. Listeners will find a vivid, human portrait of war’s hardships and the quiet bravery that emerges when hope refuses to be extinguished.