It is never too late to tell the truth, although the truth may be sharper than a two-edged sword. It is never too late to inspire our young men to love, and venerate, and defend, the Flag of their Country; to tell them how their fathers suffered in support of a PRINCIPLE. No, it is not too late to tell this story, and I have no apologies to offer any man, living or dead, for telling it. But, while I have no apologies to offer, I deem an explanation in order. Since I commenced writing this Story I have felt the want of a liberal education as I never felt it before. For, to tell the exact truth, I never enjoyed the advantages of any school of higher grade than the common district school of thirty years ago. Therefore, kind reader,—you who have enjoyed the advantages of better schools, and a more liberal education,—when you find a mistake in this book, one which can not be laid at the door of the printer, kindly, and for “Sweet Charity’s Sake,” overlook it; for I assure you I would be thus kind to you under similar circumstances. W. W. DAY. Lemond, Minnesota, September, 1889. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CONTENTS. Page. CHAPTER I. 1 Introduction 2 The Battle of Chickamauga 5 Captured CHAPTER II. 6 The Field Hospital 8 A trip over the battle field 8 The Atlanta Prison Pen 9 The “Engine Thieves” 10 Onward to Richmond CHAPTER III. 12 Libby Prison 13 Scott’s Building 15 “Zult” CHAPTER IV. 16 Danville Prison 17 Bug Soup 18 Patriotic Songs 19 Searched—Small-pox CHAPTER V. 20 The “Very O Lord” 21 Escape of Johney Squires 22 Skirmishing CHAPTER VI. 25 En Route to Andersonville 27 Description of Andersonville 28 “Dugouts” and “Gophers”