A true account of his suffering while a prisoner of war - Major Edward Thomas Stakes, Fortieth Virginia Infantry

This is Major Edward Thomas Stakes' diary, as transcribed by his great-grandson,which he kept when a prisoner during the Civil War. He was at the Old Capitol Prison in Washington, Fort McHenry, Baltimore and Johnson's Island, Ohio. Major Stakes was captured in 1863 returning from furlough after the Battle of Chancellorsville. His brother John Emory Stakes who was captured shortly after the Battle of Gettysburg was his cell mate at Johnson's island from fall 1863 until early 1865. The most exciting event is the escape of John E. Stakes with four other officers from the prison on Jan. 1, 1864. …