On August 7, 1862, George Alfred Hitchcock, who was born in Ashby, Massachusetts on January 15, 1844, left Ashby looking forward to a reunion with his older brother, Henry Sparhawk Hitchcock, and membership in Company A, 21st Massachusetts Infantry. From this date until January 1, 1865, Hitchcock composed a personal narrative, keeping a meticulous, detailed record of his daily activities in pocket diaries. His first experience in battle was at Fox' Gap on South Mountain, and then by an attack across Burnside's Bridge at Antietam.

This was followed by the disastrous Union advance toward Marye's Heights at Fredericksburg; a journey by rail to Paris, Kentucky via Pittsburgh, Columbus (detailed conflict of drunken 21st soldiers with local security) and Cincinnati; the protection of the Mount Sterling, Kentucky, area from guerrillas; an expedition from Camp Nelson through the Cumberland Gap to Eastern Tennessee; the skirmishes and battles in Burnside's Knoxville campaign; the arduous return march to Camp Nelson during a severe winter with Confederate prisoners; the persistent effort to regain his health and then his return to the 21st Regiment; and an compelling personal account of his capture at Cold Harbor and imprisonment at Andersonville, Georgia, Millen, Georgia and Florence, South Carolina; and finally, his release and life after 1865.