Things Grew Beautifully Worse: The Wartime Experiences of Captain John O'Brien, 30th Arkansas Infantry, C.S.A.

The diary chronicles the experiences of John O'Brien, an Irish native who joined the Confederacy and served in the Army of Tennessee. It begins before the battle of Murfreesboro, detailing his capture and the chaos of war. O'Brien vividly depicts his struggles in the hospital and the challenges of being a prisoner of war, offering a personal and immersive account of the emotional and physical turmoil faced during this tumultuous period.