Recent Find More Relics From A Confederate Parole Camp. "A Long Way From Home"

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I have found many state and CS army buttons in the CS Parole camps here in Demopolis but this one is a LONG way from home. I know all the regiments and units that were here but there were NO Virginia units in these camps so where did this VA State Seal Button come to be in this camp. It has a pre CW Scovill backmark. So how did it get here? You can tell I'm getting older as I nicked this one.

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Awesome find...

Perhaps off one of the Virginia Artillery batteries sent west in the Vicksburg Campaign? (At least I think there was a Virginia battery or two).
 
Awesome find...

Perhaps off one of the Virginia Artillery batteries sent west in the Vicksburg Campaign? (At least I think there was a Virginia battery or two).
There was one Botetourt Va artilley. I will check the records and see Thanks
 
Botetourt (Virginia) Artillery: Lt James P. Wright was at Vicksburg and after the surrender of Vicksburg on 4 Jul 1863 the captured Confederates were sent to Enterprise, Ms. to the Parole and Exchange Camps until an exchange was worked out. This did not happen until November and December 1863. By February most of the Surrendered troops were still at Enterprise and when Sherman came through on his Campaign to Meridian (3 Feb - 4 Mar 1864), some were sent to Mobile and others to Demopolis. It is possible that the Va. Battery could have been sent to Demopolis. Another possibility was that there were several Alabama Units attached to the Army of Northern Virginia, specifically, the Alabama Brigade, consisting of five Alabama infantry regiments that were collected from three different brigades and sent to Virginia to fight. They were the 4th, 15th, 44th, 47th and 48th Alabama Infantry Regiments. Company "D", Canebrake Rifle Guards, 4th Alabama Infantry Regiment was made up of some men from Demopolis and Marengo County as well as Perry County. They had access to Virginia Uniforms while fighting there as well as other articles of clothing which they could have collected while there and then taken back home to Demopolis while on furlough during the war or after the war.
 
Thanks. Not all the Vicksburg troops went to Enterprise. We located the Enterprise camp 8 years ago and it was not near as big as the one here in Demopolis. By Sept 1863 there were over 5000 troops here.
Alabama: 20th, 23rd. 24th. 31st, 30th, 37th, 40th, 46th, 55th, 57th and the Pettus Brigade.
Arkansas: 9th
Louisiana: 1st Arty, 3rd, 13th, 21st
Mississippi: 1st Miss arty, Brookhaven arty, 14th, 26th, 31st, 33rd, 43rd
Missouri: French's Brigade
Tennessee: 1st Tenn arty, 5th, 29th, 47th
Texas: 9th, 10th
 
Thanks. Not all the Vicksburg troops went to Enterprise. We located the Enterprise camp 8 years ago and it was not near as big as the one here in Demopolis. By Sept 1863 there were over 5000 troops here.

I was aware that some of Pemberton`s Army of Vicksburg, after the surrender, were sent to the Exchange and Parole Camps at Demopolis instead of Enterprise. I had two Great Great Grandfathers who served together in the 36th Mississippi Infantry ("C" and "D" Company) who, after being surrendered at Vicksburg on 4 Jul 1863, were sent to Enterprise until being exchanged and paroled in November and December 1863. Both were able to go home on Furlough for about a month each while waiting to be exchanged. Then they reported back to Enterprise until Sherman began his raid through central Mississippi in February 1864, at which time the 36th Mississippi was issued movement orders to Mobile. Demopolis was very important in protecting Selma and had Sooy Smith made it past Forrest at the Battle of Okolona and rendezvoused with Sherman at Meridian as planned, then I believe that there would have been a Confederate stand made against Sherman at Demopolis, with Polk being reinforced by Johnston and Hardee from Dalton. But it never came to pass. Selma was a very important munitions and transport hub to the Confederacy, much more so than Meridian, and Demopolis would have been used to protect that very valuable piece, should Sherman have continued on in his march to destroy Selma after burning Meridian. But Sooy Smith and his cavalry never showed up at Meridian due to being routed by Forrest and Sherman decided to turn back from Meridian to Vicksburg instead of going onward to Selma, missing his entire left flank, which was the role that Smiths cavalry was intended to play.

You stated that you found where the Parole and Exchange Camp was at Enterprise. Care to reveal a little about what you found at the camp? Was it located inside the town of Enterprise or out in the community? There was also a small garrison at Enterprise to protect the waterways and the M&O R.R., both very important to the Confederates ability to supply its forces and transport troops and provisions between Selma and Mobile. I have often wondered where the camp was.
 
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I was aware that some of Pemberton`s Army of Vicksburg, after the surrender, were sent to the Exchange and Parole Camps at Demopolis instead of Enterprise. I had two Great Great Grandfathers who served together in the 36th Mississippi Infantry ("C" and "D" Company) who, after being surrendered at Vicksburg on 4 Jul 1863, were sent to Enterprise until being exchanged and paroled in November and December 1863. Both were able to go home on Furlough for about a month each while waiting to be exchanged. Then they reported back to Enterprise until Sherman began his raid through central Mississippi in February 1864, at which time the 36th Mississippi was issued movement orders to Mobile. Demopolis was very important in protecting Selma and had Sooy Smith made it past Forrest at the Battle of Okolona and rendezvoused with Sherman at Meridian as planned, then I believe that there would have been a Confederate stand made against Sherman at Demopolis, with Polk being reinforced by Johnston and Hardee from Dalton. But it never came to pass. Selma was a very important munitions and transport hub to the Confederacy, much more so than Meridian, and Demopolis would have been used to protect that very valuable piece, should Sherman have continued on in his march to destroy Selma after burning Meridian. But Sooy Smith and his cavalry never showed up at Meridian due to being routed by Forrest and Sherman decided to turn back from Meridian to Vicksburg instead of going onward to Selma, missing his entire left flank, which was the role that Smiths cavalry was intended to play.

You stated that you found where the Parole and Exchange Camp was at Enterprise. Care to reveal a little about what you found at the camp? Was it located inside the town of Enterprise or out in the community? There was also a small garrison at Enterprise to protect the waterways and the M&O R.R., both very important to the Confederates ability to supply its forces and transport troops and provisions between Selma and Mobile. I have often wondered where the camp was.
Actually there were 3 different camps in Enterprise. An early recruitment camp, a conscription camp and the parole camp. All 3 were in different locations. The parole camp was a few mile outside of old Enterprise and yeild some nice relics but it is THICK and very hard hunting as it had just been clear cut and was very over grown. I go back over in the dead of winter and the replanted pines are staring to chock out some of the under growth.
 
Thanks. Not all the Vicksburg troops went to Enterprise. We located the Enterprise camp 8 years ago and it was not near as big as the one here in Demopolis. By Sept 1863 there were over 5000 troops here.
Alabama: 20th, 23rd. 24th. 31st, 30th, 37th, 40th, 46th, 55th, 57th and the Pettus Brigade.
Arkansas: 9th
Louisiana: 1st Arty, 3rd, 13th, 21st
Mississippi: 1st Miss arty, Brookhaven arty, 14th, 26th, 31st, 33rd, 43rd
Missouri: French's Brigade
Tennessee: 1st Tenn arty, 5th, 29th, 47th
Texas: 9th, 10th
Is this list for Demopolis or Enterprise?

Slightly off topic, but I have read several histories of the 42nd Alabama Infantry. All say the regiment was captured at Vicksburg and held until exchanged. One says they were held at Demopolis but they do not appear in the quoted list. Do you know where they were held?
 
I have found many state and CS army buttons in the CS Parole camps here in Demopolis but this one is a LONG way from home. I know all the regiments and units that were here but there were NO Virginia units in these camps so where did this VA State Seal Button come to be in this camp. It has a pre CW Scovill backmark. So how did it get here? You can tell I'm getting older as I nicked this one.

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Ucvrelics, I live here in Demopolis and I’ve found I believe is a camp site because of the items I’ve found. I’d like to talk with you and see if you know anything about it. All I do is metal detect for civil war items and would like to learn more. Do you live here also?
 
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