Taking prisoners

[mobile_96]

Are these Action Reports in the OR's? If so, which ones and who wrote the reports. I'm presently reading a book and reports relating to the CW in Appalachia. Recently read Fellman's book "Inside War-The Guerrilla Conflict in Missouri During the American Civil War". Appears that much of the Loyal Unionist picture we have,in the Entire Appalachia Area,is a Myth.
Chuck in Ill.

[johan_steele]

The first note comes from a post war letter from a soldier of the 14th Ia in a pension request letter. The incident is also mentioned in at least to books I've read of Shiloh and it is also mentioned in the history of the 14th Ia. First time I've read of the specifics of who stopped the shooting though.

The 2nd note comes from an after action report by a Captain of 1/16 US of Gen Rousseau's Brigade. Wiley Sword, in his book "Shiloh, Bloody April" mentions the burning of the tents w/ sick men inside and I've read other references but this is the first I've ever read that suggests it might have been intentional.

The 3rd note comes from a report to Gen King from a Captain of 1/16 US. I've never seen reference to this anywhere else.

A note on Pro Union Appalacia. From what I've read on the subject a lot of the sentiment, one way or another seems to depend on locale. IIRC Kentucky in particular seemed to have stronger Union feeling in the north & east areas as well as in the area around modern day Ft Campbell. I've read accounts of Union Loyalty running between 60-80%.The "mountain people" of Kentucky seemed to come in three flavors, Radical Pro Union, Radical Southern and those who just didn't give a **** one way or the other and just wanted to get on w/ their lives and hated anybody, Union or Confederate who bothered them.

Tennesee seems another quandry, I've often read of strong pro union support in East TN but have gotten the impression that the area had similar leanings to the "mountain people" of Kentucky. They were more interested in just being left alone. The general populace appears to heve treated Longstreets men in the same fashion as Union troops who came later... as an invading horde.


I'm not sure the idea of a loyal Unionist Kentucky can be judged as a myth, look at the number of Kentucky Regiments raised for the Union. Bragg had expected men to flock to his army when he invaded, I think he got around a company.

"Those men in the mountains either love us, hate us or just don't give a **** about the war." Gen Burnside

I believe I recall reading Fellmans book and can't remember him talking about Kentucky in anything more than passing. I thought he pretty much concentrated on Missouri and the border states. I'll have to get that from the library again.

[rivrrat]

I am a little surprised that nobody has looked to the Trans-Mississippi in this discussion, especially Alphabilly. The guerrilla war along the Missouri Kansas border was especially vicious from the start through the war. The treatment of prisoners, particularly by Union troops, was bad. The Union rules of war from the beginning called for the summary execution of “non-uniformed” hostiles. This was usually not observed by many Union officers, many of whom would exchange partisan prisoners for captured Union soldiers or would often parole them on “oath to never again take up arms against the Federal Government.” There were Union officers who followed the execution rule from the start, Kansas Volunteer troops were notorious for summary executions from the start, they also had a tendency to define “non-uniformed hostile” as any citizen of the state of Missouri. This changed in the winter of 1861-62 when orders were issued by Union headquarters to treat “bushwhackers” as “common highwaymen” and summarily execute them by shooting or hanging. The Confederate “Partisan Rangers,” who considered themselves to be soldiers, tended at the beginning of the war to take and parole Union soldiers. This changed with the Union policy and the execution of prisoners on both sides became very common.

[johan_steele]

Gent's for a good look at Black men in uniform attempting to surrender take alook at Trudeau's "Like Men of War" It details Confederate actions w/ Black POWs across several campaigns.

A very interesting book that holds nothing back on either the brutality of the CSA in regards to the Black soldier or the racist treatment by the US.