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David W. Stafford

1845–1921

A Civil War veteran and firsthand storyteller, David W. Stafford captured the fear, endurance, and faith of a young Union soldier caught in the machinery of war. His memoir offers a vivid account of battle, capture, imprisonment, and survival.

1 Audiobook

In Defense of the Flag: A true war story A pen picture of scenes and incidents during the great rebellion.--Thrilling experiences during escape from southern prisons, etc.

In Defense of the Flag: A true war story A pen picture of scenes and incidents during the great rebellion.--Thrilling experiences during escape from southern prisons, etc.

by David W. Stafford

About the author

David W. Stafford (1845–1921) was a Pennsylvania Union soldier and author of In Defense of the Flag: A True War Story, published in 1904. He enlisted at age seventeen on August 28, 1862, joining Company D of the 83rd Pennsylvania Volunteers.

Stafford’s memoir recounts his experiences during the Civil War, including the Battle of Gettysburg, the death of his brother, his capture near the Weldon Railroad, and his confinement in Confederate prisons at Macon and Andersonville. Written in a deeply personal voice, the book combines battlefield memories with reflections on suffering, family, faith, and perseverance.

His work remains a valuable firsthand account of the Union soldier’s experience and of the harsh realities faced by prisoners of war during the conflict.