A fascinating topic. I can't wait to read the book! As promised, here is the content from the chat log. If we weren't able to get to your question due to the time, I apologize. I have sent the questions to Mr. Maxfield as well.
8:30 Robert G. - My mother was a Maxfield. Her father was born in Bloomfield, NJ
8:41 Gerald (Jerry) S. - Why was the Elmira prison so far away from the civil war battles?
8:42
@Gary Morgan - Given a choice, would you rather have been a POW in Elmira or Andersonville?
8:42
@Red Raider - What happened to the soldiers who refused to take the oath of loyalty at the end of the war.
8:44
@lelliott19 - Where did they find the original CivilWar period materials to construct the building? Had it been there nearby all this time?
8:44 Remy C. - Where would you rank Pea Patch Island, Fort Delaware, DE to Elmira?
8:45 Zola N. - One of my great-great-grand uncles was a prisoner at Andersonville. His name was Thomas Geer.
8:46 Larry D. - Who decided what prisoners went to what camp?
8:47 Greg M. - Interesting that the camp’s existence was unrecognized until recently. Our POW camp Camp Douglas in Chicago is still unknown, mostly unmarked, and the very large mass grave is only ever acknowledged when people protest the Confederate flags around the gravesite.
8:47
@bdtex - What was the average age of POWs at Elmira?
8:52 Quincy M. - Why was Richmond the go to area for POW camps, in the early war?
8:55
@lelliott19 - Did the Wool/Cobb agreement from earlier - April 1862 - include provisions for the exchange of African American soldiers?
8:56
@NFB22 - I'm not one to ask questions like this, but given the times and the talk of "revisionist" history. As we have seen much written on Andersonville, why do you personally believe there isn't more written on Elmira, Camp Douglas, Camp Morton, etc.
9:04
@jvarnell - We have a ancestor who was imprisoned and died there. We took our family to visit his grave. We took a can of NC soil and spread over his grave.
9:04 William M. -
@jvarnell we also have an ancestor who died there. Would love to take some alabama clay up to him
9:08 Robert C. - Do you know how Maj. Henry Colt is related to Sam?
9:12 Richard R.- Does anyone know if there was a union prison camp in Tuscaloosa Alabama? My 3rd gg father was with the 77th Ohio and was taken prisoner on April 8th 62 during the rear action after Shiloh. I only know that he died in Tuscaloosa.
9:14
@ucvrelics - What is your take on Grant stopping the exchange program leading to camps such as Elmira and Andersonville
9:15 Victoria (Vicky) H. - Was Cholera a problem?? Maybe not as drinking water was safe.
9:21
@Red Raider - Do you have a count of injured and killed from the train wreck?
9:31 Edward F. - Thanks for great talk, Derek. Must exist stage right.
9:32 Quincy M. - I always like your talks Dad, but i'm gonna have to go now. Good job!
9:43
@jvarnell - Mr. Maxfield, thank you....very even handed presentation.
9:44
@Gary Morgan - Were there cases of prisoner on prisoner crime or violence that was comparable to the raiders at Andersonville?
9:44 William M. - Thank you so much sir!
9:45 John P. - Thank you, sir. I will seek out your book. And thanks to CivilWarTalk for the presentation.
9:45 Richard R. - Thank you Mr. Maxfield. Very interesting!
9:46
@Dave DuBrucq - Thank you very much for this most interesting presentation. A great Learning experience.
9:48 Patrick S. - Which disease caused the most fatalities.
9:50
@Gary Morgan The mortality rate among the guards at Andersonville is estimated at about 10% (about 200 of the guards died). Was there any mortality among the guards at Elmira?
9:51 Chuck A. - my Gg grandfather,George C. Ash is said to have escaped and returned to Elmira prison.. when the war ended, he took the oath and returned to Lake City Fla. How would soldiers get home? walk, train?
9:51 William M. - I've been struggling to find primary sources on Elmira for a school project - do you have any recommendations? I know you mentioned a couple memoirs already
9:51 Zola N. - My great-great-grandfather was imprisoned at Pea Patch Island, Fort Delaware. He was with the 48th Virginia.
9:53
@NFB22 If we get a moment at the end, I can give a bit more input to Derek on Fort Delaware/Pea Patch Island.
10:09
@NH Civil War Gal please go to
savasbeatie.com to order Mr. Maxfield's book
Hellmira: The Union’s Most Infamous Civil War Prison Camp—Elmira, NY Put a note in to request a signed book plate.
10:12 Patrick S. - Thanks. Very interesting talk.
10:13
@VaMtLady - Thank you so much
10:13 William M. - Thanks yall !
10:14 William M. - I'm here!
10:15 William M. - Thank you so much Mr. Maxfield. Sorry I can't unmute, my mic is broken
10:16 William M. - And thank you as well for getting to my question
10:21 Remy C. - Thank you!