author
John Azor Kellogg
1828–1883
Best known for his Civil War memoir Capture and Escape, this Wisconsin lawyer, soldier, and state senator lived a life shaped by public service and hard experience. His writing draws on time spent in combat and Confederate prisons, giving readers a firsthand view of the war.
1 Audiobook
Capture and Escape: A Narrative of Army and Prison Life
by John Azor Kellogg
About the author
Born in Pennsylvania on March 16, 1828, he moved to Wisconsin as a young man and went on to build a varied career as a lawyer, politician, and newspaper editor. He was also active in early Wisconsin Republican politics and later served in the Wisconsin State Senate.
During the Civil War, he served with the 6th Wisconsin Infantry in the Iron Brigade, rising through the ranks and taking part in major campaigns. He was captured in 1862 and spent time in Confederate prisons before eventually escaping, an experience that later became the basis for his memoir Capture and Escape.
He died in Wausau, Wisconsin, on February 10, 1883. Although not widely known today, his life connects frontier Wisconsin, Civil War service, and the kind of firsthand storytelling that helps history feel immediate.