John Ransom's Andersonville Diary: Life Inside the Civil War's Most Infamous Prison

by John L. Ransom

Book Overview

John Ransom was a 20-year-old Union soldier when he became a prisoner of war in 1863. In his unforgettable diary, Ransom reveals the true story of his day-to-day struggle in the worst of Confederate prison camps--where hundreds of prisoners died daily. Ransom's story of survival is, according to Publishers Weekly, a great adventure . . . observant, eloquent, and moving.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0425141462
• ISBN13: 9780425141465
• Release Date: May 1994
• Publisher: Berkley
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 0.66 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.3" x 1.0" x 5.3"

Customer Reviews

Civil War atrocity

When one considers that John Ransom, at the time of his interment at Andersonville, was not a professional writer, and that much of his recounting of his horrible experiences was censored, this diary is compelling, gritty, gruesome, and all too credible. This unblinking look at a part of Civil War history that is often overlooked, captured my attention as few diaries have. (The diary of Anne Frank, of course, being the most engaging and heart-rending of the genre.)The stories of mistreatment of the Union soldiers abound--by other Union soldiers as well as the Confederates! But no scourge was more frightful than the natural ones: the weather, insects, and contaminants were just as unfeeling and effective in their decimation of the prison population. This is not a diary for the weak-hearted. The constant tales of humiliation, hunger, and brutality, along with the growing list of Ransom's associates who were dying all around him, are incessant. Just when things get to their grimmest, the reader is treated to the suspense of Ransom's breakout and escape, which you have to read to believe. Whether you are a devotee of Civil War stories or not, John Ransom's "Andersonville Diary/Life Inside the Civil War's Most Infamous Prison" is a fabulous story of toughing it out in the worst of situations, and a thorough examination of one of the Civil War's darkest times and places.Rocco Dormarunno, author of The Five Points.

Andersonville - Words can't describe...

Ransom's Andersonville is such a interesting first-hand account of the daily miseries of being a Union prisoner. Ransom mentions his stay in Richmond before being transferred to Andersonville, Georgia. He also describes his daily affairs, hardships, horrors and escapes with much detail. Due to the horrid conditions of the camp, details are captured by Ransom and are sometimes quite graphic. Ransom thought that someday his diary would reach others and certainly didn't want others not to know what hardships actually carried on daily. His vivid descriptions of camp life and his own personal battle of deteriorating health encompasses the reader in this book. His daring escape after being released from Andersonville while being shipped to another southern prison is another gripping tale that awaits the reader in this very interesting story. It's a great book about humanity and suffering. One wonders how people can inflict such burden upon prisoners, though by 1864 the supply withered Confederacy only created further havoc for those contained. This book is a graphic tale of Andersonville and an important asset to explaining Civil War History. 5 STARS!!

Best Andersonville diary I ever read

John Ransom holds back any unnecessary fancy writing and gets to the point. Unfortunately for the 20th century reader, it was published in the 19th century, when censorship in print was at an all time high, so we don't get to read about every vulgarity that he saw while in that deathcamp, and he admits to the reader that some of what he is seeing is undescribable. Even so, I highly recommend it. I even cried at the end (I'm a girl).

Outstanding personal history

This is simply the best Civil War personal history I have ever read. It is at the same time depressing and uplifting. The struggle, humor, and horror of the situation is amply described. John Ransom lived an entire lifetime in a little over a year spent as a prisoner. It is history presented as it should be.

A gripping account of one of America's most shameful events.

One of the best books I have read. The account Mr. Ransom provides is detailed in the suffering incurred by the prisoners. I was amazed by the dedication to the cause by men facing such extreme circumstances. Such integrity and discipline is a credit to all American's as much as the conditions were a shame.