Beyond the Lines; Or, A Yankee Prisoner Loose in Dixie

A Union soldier’s harrowing account begins with the brutal aftermath of the Battle of Shiloh, where he is seized by Confederate forces and thrust into a nightmarish world of makeshift courts and stark accusations. He describes being tried before well‑known Confederate generals, shackled in grim prisons, and forced to endure the relentless pursuit of bloodhounds through the swampy backwaters of the Deep South.

Escaping with a fellow officer, the narrative follows their desperate trek across malarial wetlands, relying on the aid of enslaved people who risk everything to guide them. Their flight is marked by constant danger—hungry predators, relentless hunters, and the ever‑present threat of recapture—yet moments of unexpected kindness and faith provide fleeting relief. Listeners will be drawn into a vivid portrait of Civil War captivity, survival, and the stark contrast between cruelty and humanity in a divided nation.