The book to which these lines form an introduction is a peculiar one
in many respects. It is a story, but it is a true story, and written
years ago with little idea that it would ever come into this form.
The writer has been induced, only recently, by the advice of friends
and by his own feeling that such a production would be appreciated,
to present what, at the time it was being made up, was merely a means
of occupying a mind which had to contemplate, besides, only the
horrors of a situation from which death would have been, and was to
thousands, a happy relief.
The original diary in which these writings were made from day to day
was destroyed by fire some years after the war, but its contents
had been printed in a series of letters to the Jackson, (Mich.)
_Citizen_, and to the editor and publisher of that journal thanks are
now extended for the privilege of using his files for the preparation
of this work. There has been little change in the entries in the
diary, before presenting them here. In such cases the words which
suggest themselves at the time are best—they cannot be improved upon
by substitution at a later day.
This book is essentially different from any other that has been
published concerning the “late war” or any of its incidents.
Those who have had any such experience as the author will see its
truthfulness at once, and to all other readers it is commended as a
statement of actual things by one who experienced them to the fullest.
The annexed list of the Andersonville dead is from the rebel official
records, is authentic, and will be found valuable in many pension
cases and otherwise.
[Illustration: GOOD LUCK]