In and Out of Rebel Prisons

In Short

This memoir chronicles the Civil War experiences of a New York cavalry lieutenant, tracing his journey from the intense battle at Plymouth, North Carolina, to his capture and subsequent imprisonment in various Confederate facilities, including the infamous Andersonville, Macon, and Danville prisons. Rather than wallowing in misery, the author focuses on the resourcefulness, social hierarchies, and persistent escape attempts of captured officers. It has endured as a primary source because it captures the psychological resilience of soldiers who refused to let their captivity break their spirit, offering a vivid, ground-level perspective on life behind enemy lines.

The Story

The narrative begins with the four-day Battle of Plymouth, a brutal engagement where the author’s small Union force is eventually overwhelmed by a superior Confederate column supported by the ironclad Albemarle. Recognizing that surrender is inevitable, the author destroys his pistol and watches as his comrades are forced to yield. He is soon marched through the battlefield, witnessing the aftermath of the fighting and the grim execution of captured colored troops. From there, the author is transported across the South, beginning a ten-month odyssey through a series of "rebel slaughter houses."

The core of the book details the daily life of officers in confinement. Unlike the rank-and-file soldiers who faced the most horrific conditions, the officers maintain a degree of organization and social structure. The author describes these prisons as microcosms of the outside world, where men trade, repair shoes, craft intricate trinkets, and even hold divine services. He portrays the surreal normalcy of these camps, where prisoners might dine on bacon and eggs while listening to the distant boom of Union artillery, or stroll out under guard to enjoy a glass of "applejack" at a local tavern.

Throughout his captivity, the author is defined by his refusal to accept his status as a prisoner. He chronicles multiple, often elaborate, schemes to break out. These plans range from digging tunnels to cutting holes through floors and attempting to bribe guards. In one notable sequence, the author and two companions successfully escape a prison in Columbia, beginning a desperate, weeks-long trek through the Confederacy. They navigate swamps, evade patrols, and rely on the kindness of Union-sympathizing locals, who provide food and shelter in secret.

The author’s journey is one of endurance and camaraderie. He highlights the generosity of friends like Captain Robert B. Hock, who shared his limited funds when the author grew too feeble to continue. Even when recaptured or moved between facilities, the author retains a hopeful, almost buoyant disposition. He documents the constant, obsessive hope of "exchange"—the dream that kept many of the prisoners awake at night. The memoir concludes with the eventual collapse of the Confederacy, the release of the prisoners, and the author’s return to military service. He finds his way back to his regiment, reunites with the comrades who escaped with him, and continues his duties, eventually commanding companies in North Carolina. The book serves as both a testament to the suffering endured by those in Southern pens and a celebration of the irrepressible human desire for liberty.

How It Unfolds

The surrender at Plymouth The narrative opens with the author’s detachment defending a redoubt against overwhelming odds. After the enemy closes in, the officers agree to a white flag, marking the beginning of the author's long captivity.

The march into prison Following his capture, the author is moved through the landscape of war, witnessing the grim realities of the conflict, including the mistreatment of fellow soldiers. He is eventually transported via rail to the notorious stockades of the South, including Andersonville and Macon.

Life behind the stockade The author provides a detailed account of the ingenuity required to survive, describing how prisoners repurposed materials to fashion tools, shoes, and clothing. He depicts the strange social dynamics of the prison camps, where officers maintained a semblance of military discipline and organized activities to occupy their minds.

Schemes for freedom The heart of the book covers the persistent efforts of the prisoners to escape. These sections detail the planning, the bribing of guards, and the daring, often thwarted, attempts to tunnel or slip away from their captors.

The great escape The narrative shifts to the author’s successful flight from Columbia with his companions. This section vividly portrays the physical toll of their march, the necessity of navigating dangerous terrain, and the relief of encountering fellow Unionists.

The final liberation The story closes with the end of the war and the dissolution of the Confederate armies. The author returns to active duty, reflecting on his survival and the resilience of the men he served alongside.

The People

The author, Alonzo Cooper, serves as the observant, resilient guide through the story. He possesses a remarkably hopeful disposition, which allows him to endure the squalor of prison life without descending into despair. He is a man of action and careful documentation, keeping a diary that forms the backbone of his account.

Captain Robert B. Hock stands as the author's most significant companion. A "daring" and "faithful" friend, Hock is integral to the author’s successful escape. His willingness to sacrifice his own meager resources for the author’s survival underscores the intense bonds formed in the crucible of war.

General Wessels acts as a figure of professional integrity, defending his stronghold with gallantry despite the inevitability of defeat. His refusal to accept threats from the enemy characterizes the staunch, unyielding spirit that the author admires in his superiors.

"Free Mitchell" and other unnamed Union-sympathizers represent the hidden networks of support that allowed escapees to navigate the hostile Southern territory. These individuals, often putting their own lives at risk, provide the author with food, directions, and moral encouragement.

Finally, the Confederate guards and local opportunists serve as the obstacles to freedom. While some are portrayed as cruel or indifferent, others—like the guards bribed to facilitate an escape or the tavern owner who sells drinks—are depicted as pragmatic actors in a system that often blurred the lines between enemy and neighbor.

In Its Own Voice

"Being blessed with the happy faculty of looking upon the bright side of life, and possessing a hopeful disposition, unaccustomed to give way to despondency, I also write upon the bright side of my subject."

In his preface, the author explains his decision to frame his account through the lens of resilience rather than purely focusing on the horrific conditions of the prisons.

"I found that in prison, as at home, there were some who were fitted for one thing and some for another."

Observing his fellow prisoners, the author notes how the men adapted to their confinement by applying their civilian skills to the harsh realities of camp life.

"Yes," said he, "I know you are Yankees, but you need have no fear of us, we are Union men."

The author recounts the moment of profound relief upon realizing that two men approaching their campfire were allies rather than enemy patrols.

What It's Really About

At its core, this book examines the psychological survival of the individual in the face of systemic deprivation. Cooper argues, through his own experience, that the ability to maintain one's identity and agency is the greatest weapon against the dehumanization of prison life. The book explores the tension between the "systematic course of starvation" practiced by the Confederacy and the indomitable ingenuity of the prisoners who refused to be passive victims. It also poses questions about the nature of honor and duty during wartime—not just on the battlefield, but in the quiet, desperate hours of confinement. Ultimately, the work is a meditation on the power of hope and the necessity of human connection, suggesting that even in the most restricted environments, a man’s spirit remains the only true frontier he must defend.

Why Read It Today

Readers drawn to primary accounts of the American Civil War will find this book an invaluable, deeply human document. It lacks the detached, analytical tone of a modern history book, offering instead the raw, immediate observations of a soldier who lived through the events he describes. For those interested in the logistical and social realities of 19th-century imprisonment, the level of detail regarding prison trade, escape tactics, and the internal organization of captured officers is exceptional.

Readers should be prepared for the book's 19th-century prose style, which is formal and occasionally circuitous. Furthermore, the author reflects the attitudes and racial prejudices of his era; his descriptions of the "reb deserters" and his interactions with the locals are filtered through a mid-1800s worldview. However, these period characteristics are precisely what make the book a vital window into the past.

The reading experience is one of surprising contrast—shifting from the grim, high-stakes atmosphere of the battlefield to the almost mundane, domestic struggles of life in a "prison pen." What stays with you long after finishing is the author’s buoyant, stubborn insistence on finding "the bright side," a quality that transforms this from a standard war memoir into a compelling portrait of human perseverance.