A good book that covers this subject is "Yankee Rebel" I have the book at home I forgot his name. The author was from Ohio but enlisted in the 6th Alabama. The author was captured at Gettysburg and spent over a year at Johnson Island in Ohio.When a soldier was taken prisoner on the battlefield, where would he be taken immediately after? Was there a sort of "holding area" before they were taken to main prison camps?
Thanks guys!
When a soldier was taken prisoner on the battlefield, where would he be taken immediately after? Was there a sort of "holding area" before they were taken to main prison camps?
Thanks guys!
For sure you need to get this book"Yankee Rebel Civil War journal of DeWitt Patterson University of North Carolina Press.Uou should get a decent used copy at a reasonable price from Amazon or Abes Books.When a soldier was taken prisoner on the battlefield, where would he be taken immediately after? Was there a sort of "holding area" before they were taken to main prison camps?
Thanks guys!
Where did they keep the prisoners before Vicksburg fell? I mean some had to be captured after they were surrounded. Where were they kept.
I have a few ancestors who did time at Point Lookout. A couple Uncle's who were for sure there the same time as your GG Grandpa. One was captured on the retreat from Gettysburg @ falling waters, MD 14 July '63. Exchanged 3 Mar '64.I had on GGGrandfather, with the 3rd NC Infantry, captured at Payne's Farm November 27, 1863. He was sent to the Old Capitol Prison on December 3. Onward to Point Lookout, February 4, 1864 then exchanged September 18, 1864. He went home and stayed there till the war was over.
I had another CGGrandfather , with the 29th VA Infantry, captured at Dinwiddie Court House, April 1, 1865. Sent on to Hart's Island via City Point arrived April 7 and died May 23, 1865 of Typhoid Fever. He joined in April of 1862 and almost made it home but was just short by 9 days or so when captured.
Regards
CDavid
When a soldier was taken prisoner on the battlefield, where would he be taken immediately after? Was there a sort of "holding area" before they were taken to main prison camps?
Thanks guys!
A good book that covers this subject is "Yankee Rebel" I have the book at home I forgot his name. The author was from Ohio but enlisted in the 6th Alabama. The author was captured at Gettysburg and spent over a year at Johnson Island in Ohio.
The book "Company Atoch" by Sam Watkins also covers this when Watkins was briefly captured by Sherman's March through Georgia.
Overall security at POW Camps on both sides was overall pretty bad and lots of escapes. Camp conditions were also terrible. American Pow camps in WW2 by comparison were 5 star resorts.
Leftyhunter
Thanks for the pictures. Doesn't look like much security going on there...A great picture of some Confederate POW's. Although, not the fellas close in the picture, the fellas seated deep in the picture. I do not know where they were taken after this picture was taken. I've seen this picture a few times, & it referenced as Confederate POW's in the Shenandoah Valley.
Not much security was needed. Once captured, men were resigned to their fate. There was a lot of "sense of honor" back then that is difficult for us to understand and translate today.Thanks for the pictures. Doesn't look like much security going on there...
Not much security was needed. Once captured, men were resigned to their fate. There was a lot of "sense of honor" back then that is difficult for us to understand and translate today.