In 1864; six hundred Confederate prisoners of war; all officers; were taken out of a prison camp in Delaware and transported to South Carolina; where most were confined in a Union stockade prison on Morris Island. They were placed in front of two Union forts as "human shields" during the siege of Charleston and exposed to a fearful barrage of artillery fire from Confederate forts. Many of these men would suffer an even worse ordeal at Union-held Fort Pulaski near Savannah; Georgia; where they were subjected to severe food rationing as retaliatory policy. Author and historian Karen Stokes uses the prisoners' writings to relive the courage; fraternity and struggle of the "Immortal 600."
#1307076 in Books Aquila Polonica 2011-07-16Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.11 x .98 x 6.18l; 1.53 #File Name: 1607720035400 pages
Review
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful. An Historic Account of a Family's Survival During WWIIBy I. Auerbach"The Ice Road" is an historical account of the exploits of a Polish family during World War II; who among thousands of others on the Russian side of the Polish-Russian border; following the German invasion of Poland; were rounded-up in the middle of the night and sent deep into Siberia. There; they found themselves dropped-off in a primitive lumber camp in a forest clearing on the bank of the Uftyuga River called; Kvasha. At their arrival they were told; "here you shall live". It was a life-sentence to a Soviet slave labor camp from which no one had ever returned.Reading "The Ice Road" was as anticipatory as reading a good novel. The book; however; is not a novel at all; but rather a documentary. Most history is dry; telling the reader what happened to thousands of people; where it happened; why and when. The reader knows what happened to everybody; but doesn't know what happened to anybody. He gets a full view of the forest; but no one tree is significant. This account is a powerful zoom into the forest to look closely at one family. The reader knows specifically what happened to them; their feelings at the time; their relationships to each other; to others and others relationships to them. The reader is able to actually know them. This is made possible by Stefan Waydenfeld's descriptively detailed accounts of events within their contexts. The book is appropriately written in the first person. Dr. Waydenfeld is a witness. Here is his captivating testimony.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Great read!By GigiThis is such an important part if history so why has it not been taught. Thank you for sharing tour incredible story.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Ice RoadBy Wasyl MillerWaydenfeld provides a stark picture of what it would be like to go from leading a normal life in a prosperous country; and then be subjected to war; bombing and destruction. Living just outside of Warsaw in September 1939; the author and his family were spared some of the initial attacks that focused on Warsaw. His father; a medical officer was called up in into the army; and Stefan soon left home to search for his father. Then Poland was attacked from the east by the Russians and the Poles who were fleeing the Nazis were caught up in the Bolshevik net. The family was re-united in eastern Poland and lived for a few months as refugees. The Soviets told the Poles that they would send them back to their homes; and they were packed into closed box cars. When they were re-opened over a week later; they found themselves in the far north in Siberian Russia.The book continues with the tale of their life working in the northern forests and on the Ice Road; the eventual German attack on Russia; being released from their northern captivity; and having to find their way on their own; south through Russia and eventually to Persia.There are many adventures along with tragic tales and events. It makes for compelling reading.
