JOHN RANSOM'S DIARY

An original, unretouched record, this is the diary of a twenty year old Michigan Cavalry brigade quartermaster who was captured in the fall of 1863 and spent the balance of the war in Confederate prisons- even ""the worst of all prisons"", Andersonville. The introduction is by Bruce Catton who highlights the new perspectives the diary contributes (i.e. much ""suffering undergone by Union men"" in Confederate hands was of their own making; Union men did receive the proper food and care for survival). Ransom's journal is direct and detailed and very readable- although Catton makes still stronger, higher claims for it. Certainly complementary volume for all Civil War libraries.