PRISON DIARY OF MICHAEL DOUGHERTY

The book to which these lines form an introduction is a peculiar one in many respects.

It is a story, but it is a true story, and written years ago with little idea that it would ever come into this form.

In the following pages is given an account of the daily life of the writer while confined in Pemberton, Barrett's, Libby, Andersonville and other Southern prisons.

This was my second experience of Southern prison life.

When captured the first time we were not treated as badly as the second time, and no detailed account was kept of each day's doings.

On February 26, 1863, my regiment, the 13th Pa. Cavalry was ordered out on a scouting expedition up the Shenandoah Valley and to rout out what was thought to be a band of Rebel raiders.

We captured eight or ten of them and drove the remainder into the camp of the n-th Va, Rebel regiment at Woodsdock, some twenty miles from Winchester. On our return, at Fisher's Hill, we were met by a large force of the enemy, who were lined up on both flanks, and who opened fire on us.

We had a hand to hand fight for over half an hour, but their force and position were too much for us and we were forced to retreat.

Our loss in killed, wounded and captured was 108.

I had my horse shot under me at Strawsburg and along with fifty others were taken prisoners and conveyed to Richmond and put in Libby prison.

We were confined there until May 26th, when we were exchanged and rejoined our regiment at Winchester.