J. D. Stevens
Sergeant
- Joined
- Dec 11, 2016
- Location
- Deep In The Heart of Texas
Some really nice pictures you took. Brought back a good memory when my wife and I visited Fort Delaware in 2003. Spent several hours there. You did not mention, but when we visited, there were reenactors portraying prisoners, guards, civilians, cook for the officer's quarters, a blacksmith, and the commander's wife. Each reenactor was portraying an actual person documented at the fort on August 15, 1863. As we crossed the bridge over the moat, a rebel was sitting on the edge with bare feet dangling and fishing with a homemade pole. We were given a tour of the fort as if we were on an inspection tour. When we walked through the entrance into the yard we met some type of preacher who was a prisoner because he preached against Lincoln and his evil war. He started haranguing us like the war was our fault until an Irish Sargent with a heavy brogue told him to get away from us or he would get a swift kick in the seat of his pants. The Sargent then gave us the tour of the guard's kitchen, mess hall, the water supply cistern, and enlisted quarters. When we left this area, a lieutenant took us to the officer's kitchen downstairs in the officer's quarters. The officer's cook was a young lady who explained how Union officers pooled their money to pay her and buy their victuals. She gave us a slice of her fresh baked bread. We were then taken upstairs to the commanding officer's quarters where his wife gave us a tour of their rooms and explained what her husband did and the living conditions for the officer's wives in the fort. After that we were let loose to explore the rest of the fort inside and out. If you asked a reenactor a question, they would answer as if it was August 1863. If you had a contemporary or historical question, you had to ask the reenactor to remove their hat. An artillery squad and officer gave a demonstration of the big cannon on the northeast corner of the fort overlooking the prisoner's barracks and camp. They went through the numbers of getting ready to fire several times at different speeds and then they did it for real. When they fired the cannon, it was one heck of a bang. The entire experience made for a great day.
If you are interested in reading an account of being a prisoner at Fort Delaware, "Reminiscences of The Civil War" by Judge Jno. W. Stevens of Co K, 5th Tx Infantry captured at Gettysburg is an interesting read. He goes into considerable detail about his imprisonment and finally getting paroled about a year later.
Although my picture taking abilities do not compare with yours, I have taken the liberty of adding a couple pictures taken in 2003. Thanks for posting your pictures.
Artillery captain at the big cannon.
We were told this cannon overlooked the Confederate camp. The prisoners were told it was always loaded with grape and if they started trouble or a riot, the cannon would be fired. According to the story, the cannon never had to be used.
Front Gate and enlisted barracks from the inside.
Drilling Yankee recruits.
If you are interested in reading an account of being a prisoner at Fort Delaware, "Reminiscences of The Civil War" by Judge Jno. W. Stevens of Co K, 5th Tx Infantry captured at Gettysburg is an interesting read. He goes into considerable detail about his imprisonment and finally getting paroled about a year later.
Although my picture taking abilities do not compare with yours, I have taken the liberty of adding a couple pictures taken in 2003. Thanks for posting your pictures.
Artillery captain at the big cannon.
We were told this cannon overlooked the Confederate camp. The prisoners were told it was always loaded with grape and if they started trouble or a riot, the cannon would be fired. According to the story, the cannon never had to be used.
Front Gate and enlisted barracks from the inside.
Drilling Yankee recruits.
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