Lucius W. Barber was my Great Grandmother's (Rose Barber Stevens)brother. She wrote this manuscript from Uncle Lute's field notes as he lay dying of "consumption" presumably acquired at Andersonville. But there's evidence that he was ill before entering military service. The family has always enjoyed blaming Captain Wirz.

I have several copies of the original 1894 publication (there were 200 copies published for the 25th anniversary of the 15th Illinois Volunteers), the original typewritten manuscript and Rose's handwritten manuscript.

The writing is human, passionate, and very descriptive of the conflict through the eyes of a participant. Lute was a patriotic Unionist, who struggled with how much like him his enemy was, for after all, they were us. His notes are augmented by the prosy writing of his sister, but it makes a great read.

I would love for the family to be able to re-publish this work, but I see that Time-Life has already done that...so I'll leave it at that and hope the reader enjoys getting to know Uncle Lute.

Kenton J. "Kim" DeMotte
Grandson of Lucia Alzina Stevens (DeMotte) who is...
..the daughter of Rose Barber Stevens