MWSA Book Review

Fast And Loose In Dixie: A Civil War Adventure

Authors: J. Madison Drake

Editor: Albert Nathaniel Drake

Publisher:  Xlibris.com

Reviewer: Bill McDonald – President of the MWSA

Civil War Historic Memoir by Union POW and His Escape

Writer Albert Nathanial Drake continues to dig up some great memoirs and reedits and publishes them for modern readers. This civil war memoir written by J. Madison Drake (Not sure what the relationship is between the writer and the editor if any) in 1880, paints a portrait of that era like few have ever before. What a gift to all history buffs and certainly for those who study and love to read about the American War Between The States.

This is a well written and organized accounting by a Union officer that starts off with the battles in April of 1864 that were designed to capture Richmond. Lieutenant Drake and his men are captured during this campaign. This is the point where this story gets interesting and absolutely riveting. The details of his imprisonment and his treatment in Confederate POW camps were nothing short of hell at times. The cruelty and inhuman disregard for the prisoners makes for some dark history when you realize that these are all American troops on both sides of the war. These were terrible times and the book captures that shadow of our past that few reflect on or even know about today.

The original telling of Drake’s experiences at the hands of his captors and his subsequent escape from a train, along with three other Union officers, is well done. The 47 days spent traveling through the enemy lines and the swamps and even snow capped mountains to reach freedom, is an even better story. This is real and the people are real. It is better than a novel. The editing of this memoir is done seamlessly. The fact that it could be rediscovered in this century is a “God send” for those of us readers that realize what an absolute treasure trove of personal information that this book presents. It is not like reading a history report but more like an imbedded reporter’s story from Iraq or some of other war.

This book is a FIVE STAR reading experience and a top historic memoir. This book should be ranked in the “Top 100 Books” about the American Civil War! It is that good!