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. Capt. John Stakes was recaptured after a few days in a badly frost bitten condition. Three officers of the group made their way to Canada and were able to return to Virginia. An ongoing activity was Major Stakes sitting up with dying fellow officers. A number of these men's final moments of life are recorded. Dozens of individuals are named, among them Gen. I.R. Trimble and Gen. Jeff Thompson. The officers developed a plot to seize the prison in the fall of 1863 but the effort was aborted. The prisoners were aware of the peace movement in the midwest and even as far away Maine.