Experience of a Confederate States Prisoner Being an Ephemeris Regularly Kept by an Officer of the Confederate States Army

"Experience of a Confederate States Prisoner" by Beckwith West is a compelling historical narrative that vividly illustrates the life of a Confederate officer held as a prisoner during the Civil War. The book is a firsthand account that recounts his capture after the Confederate victory at McDowell in May 1862, detailing the struggles with health, the frantic retreat from Front Royal with looming Yankee forces, and the stark realities of his subsequent imprisonment under Union control. Through diary entries, the narrative showcases the daily hardships faced by Confederate prisoners and the interactions between captors and captives, further enriched by accounts of kindness from sympathetic local townspeople. This intimate portrayal delivers a raw and personal understanding of the emotional and physical challenges endured by captured soldiers amidst the backdrop of war.