The Chatfield Story: Civil War Letters and Diaries of Private Edward L. Chatfield of the 113th Illinois Volunteers

Edward Chatfield fortunately left to posterity several diaries and over 100 letters relating to his service from 1862 to 1865 as a private in the 113th Illinois Infantry. He was in the Vicksburg Campaign and helped guard the Corinth-Memphis sector before being captured following the disastrous Battle of Brice's Crossroads (June 1864). He managed to survive the hell-holes of Andersonville, Millen and Florence before being exchanged and returning home. He later became a rancher in Colorado. With extensive research and thoughtful commentary, Peg McCarty, one of Edward's descendants, and her husband Terry have done a wonderful job in presenting Edward's story in proper context in a beautifully produced and well-illustrated book. Where there are gaps in the record, they utilized valuable sources, such as the unpublished memoir of one of Edward's friends who was with him throughout their captivity. Highly recommended for adding to the understanding of the experiences and viewpoints of Union soldiers in the Western Theater and as a tribute to the men in blue who suffered so much because of the incompetent leadership at Brice's Crossroads.John B. Lundstrom, Curator Emeritus of History, Milwaukee Public Museum, author of "Black Shoe Carrier Admiral: Frank Jack Fletcher at Coral Sea, Midway and Guadalcanal"

While many books and articles have been written on the subject of the Civil War, none has beenresearched as carefully, and documented as successfully as I found this book to be. It's atreatise on the good, bad and ugly of this historical event in American History.The added bonus that chronicles a real family makes the reading of the book that much moreexciting and real.I recommend this book to genuine Civil War aficianados everywhere!Phyllis Moses

An outstanding book that goes in great detail. It is obvious the authors did a mountainous amount of research to bring this book to us.

The Chatfield Story is a compelling account of a Union soldier's struggle through our Civil War. Not only is it a pleasure to read, it is a significant addition to the war annals defining our nation. Nearly a century and a half since his encounters at Vicksburg, Brice's Crossroads, and Andersonville, Chatfield now has the broad voice he deserves. His story is an essential addition to our knowledge and perspective of the War in the West, and I wish all books were this thoroughly researched and well written. Another classic is now with us.--Don Sides, Chairman, Mississippi Civil War Battlefield Preservation Commission, 2004-2008

Slow beginning but it does pick up. Informative and especially insightful of prison life. I read the book because I am a Tomlinson and a reader of Civil War stories. Not sure how anyone else would perceive the book.