To Die in Chicago: Confederate Prisoners at Camp Douglas, 1862-65

I love the synopsis at the beginning of each chapter. I gave the book 5 stars because of the wonderful overview it gave.This book is more on the administration of the camp, that is it tells about the camp commanders and Hoffman who ran the camps and the Secretary of War Stanton who was motivated by revenge. The idea that the north should take the high road and make reunification an easier proposition never occurred to Stanton even when it was clear the Confederacy was dead.Levy did an excellent job and used information on Burke and and his Pa who were both in the camp to give a view of prison life. Pa, a Mason, 'deserted' the camp and went to live in the Mason barracks who was tended by a guard who was a Mason. Condition were so good there that Pa no longer wanted to be exchanged and after his release Pa went to live in Medina, Ohio where his mother lived.Burke on the other hand lived in the south after the war. When Burke left he did not give his blanket or other items to Pa, showing the rift that developed. This provided a good example of life and after life of the camp and its people. How the dead were buried in wetlands and their recovery was bungled at least four times is interesting as well.I have tried to take a different approach than the other reviews. The book is somewhat like a college professor's lecture so it is a bit dry at times, but Levy is what he is. His classes must be informative and interesting as well and there was no way to present the information he did without it being somewhat dry at times. This is the cost of a wonderfully well presented overview of Camp Douglas from the top to the bottom. A book from the life of prisoners would have been more interesting, but you would not have learned about those who ran the camp and why.The one thing Levy left out was when Ada C. Sweet died. Perhaps he could not find the information. On September 17, 1928, Ada died at the home of her sister, Mrs. Winifred Black Bonfils, (Annie Laurie) in San Francisco, California. Ada was 72 years old and had run a good race.[...]

I guess it all comes down to the fact that the Victors Write History. I grew up in Chicago and had never heard anyone make mention of Camp Douglas. I even asked several others I knew who grew up in various parts of Chicago and they had not heard of Camp Douglas, either. Yet, we all learned about Andersonville. I have since gone to Oaklawn Cemetery on Chicago's South Side (Hyde Park) to see the monument and grave sites. Whodathunk!?! The most disheartening thing I learned from reading the book, and there were many disheartening things, is that Lincoln knew and was aware of Camp Douglas. All told, the book is indeed an eyeopener that only confirms something, that sadly, I've believed for a long time: Hobbes Lives.

My relative was a 1st Lt. in the 90 th Illinois regiment and they performed guard duty there briefly from Sept.1862 - December 1862 and then they were shipped down to Tennessee and Mississippi.They guarded Confederates briefly for about a month and the confederates left and then Parolled Union soldiers filled the camp. This was before the real brutality started.I watched 80 acres of Hell on the History channel and was really impressed with George Levy's presentation and I bought his book. Haven't read it yet but the reviews indicate it's a really good book.I never knew my relative served in Camp Douglas doing guard duty , it's all new to me. Hopefully this book will fill in the details and I'll learn more about my relatives Civil war service.

I can't tell you how many times I have gone back to this book to better understand the "big picture" of the US Civil War. So much propaganda that vilifies the South lives on, but the lesser known negative truths about the Northern atrocities have been shuffled to the side. This book does not take sides or place blame, but it lets the reader understand the facts and make an informed decision for themselves.Meticulous research is presented in a clear and concise format that makes this book an essential reference book for anyone interested in the subject.

Excellent history! Well written, factual, interesting. I bought it because of reference I discovered while working on genealogy. Decided to check the footnotes and bibliography for accuracy. Have not discovered any problems. Material quoted is correctly quoted; that which is paraphased is likewise correct. This is a history that every history teacher should be using in the classroom when talking about the Civil War.

I bought the book because my great grandfather, George Dickey Armstrong, died there. It is recorded on page 72. I have a copy of the letter that the prison chaplain sent to my great grandmother. I have put it in digital form so if George Levy or anyone else would like to read it, I can oblige'Spence M. Armstrong

A very important book to read if you want to understand Camp Douglas. Disturbing, but well-researched and historically important.

I bought this book for my husband for Xmas. He loved it. His great, great,grandfather was at camp Douglas during the Civil War and there had only been a mere mention of it in his family. The book came in a timely fashion and was in great condition