Major George McKnight, assistant adjutant general on the staff of General William Wing Loring, commander, First Corps, Army of the Mississippi, was captured at Hazlehurst, Mississippi, in July of 1863, and sent to Johnson's Island, a Union prison camp in Sandusky Bay of Lake Erie, Ohio. While a prisoner at Johnson's Island, McKnight wrote several poems using the pseudonym, Asa Hartz. Several works were published in the magazine, Confederate Veteran, under his given name, George McKnight, as well as his pseudonym, Asa Hartz.

This collection consists of three poems and one letter written by Major George McKnight under the pseudonym, Asa Hartz, while a prisoner at Johnson's Island. The letter written to "Uncle Bob," is a satirical plea to the Confederate general and staff exchange agent, Robert Ould, to be released or exchanged from the prison. This collection was apparently photocopied from an original record book kept on Johnson's Island by Captain C. C. Knowles, First Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Tuskegee, Alabama.

1. Poetry. 1863-1864; n.d. 3 items.
2. Letter. n.d. 1 item.