Field, Camp, Hospital and Prison in the Civil War, 1863-1865: Charles A. Humphreys, Chaplain, Second Massachusetts Cavalry Volunteers

Charles Humphreys' autobiography recounts his years as a Union cavalry soldier in the U.S. Civil War; his activity fighting, being wounded and eventually captured and imprisoned.

The author's experiences were exciting and varied, shedding light upon contrasting aspects of the war which carry historical value. Elderly at the time when he published his recollections in 1918, Humphreys briefly reflects about the still-ensuing World War I, noting the value of revealing the exposures and trials war places upon everyone involved. It was in the spirit of remembering the hardships of conflict that this memoir was composed; that readers be mindful of the sacrifices and privations unique to war.

Humphreys' recollections are eloquent, multifaceted and nuanced, giving visual impressions of the battlefields, weaponry, field tents, trenches, fortifications, and the general atmosphere a Civil War soldier experienced. Dramatic horseback pursuits and moments of action are accompanied by the emotional and spiritual aspects of warfare: Humphreys was a young chaplain whose duty was to counsel and assure his fellow fighters of God's presence. Altogether we find on these pages a lively yet sensitive and life-affirming account of a war pivotal to American history and the life of the nation.