Battle of the Crater; and Experiences of Prison Life

"Battle of the Crater; and Experiences of Prison Life" by Sumner U. Shearman is a captivating, first-person account of the Civil War, written by a captain in the Fourth Rhode Island Volunteers. The story plunges into the heart of the Battle of the Crater, where a daring Union plan to tunnel under enemy lines turns into a bloody disaster due to confusion and poor leadership. Shearman vividly paints the chaos of battle and the desperation of surrender before shifting focus to the brutal realities of Confederate prisons. From scarce rations to rampant disease, he recounts the prisoners' daily struggle for survival and the bonds forged in the face of unimaginable hardship, ultimately leading to a long-awaited, yet bittersweet, taste of freedom.