Officer prisoner exchange. Why?

[alexjack]

I can't really see the sense of the exchange of prisoners, particularly officers and particularly good officers. If I read through biographies posted here, I will very often see that a particular officer has done great service, been captured and then a few months later been paroled only to return to battle and go on to do great things again and yet many enlisted men were kept in prisons for years. I would have thought this would have been particularly disadvantageous to the Confederacy

 

[DixieRifles]

I guess a deal is a deal. Each side thinks he got the better part of it.

A good officer to study on this is CS General Stephen D. Lee. He was exchanged so quickly that other Union generals thought he violated parole.

 

[101combatvet]

The least expensive way was to shoot them, I would prefer being paroled. If you keep them as POWs you have to house, guard, and feed them.

 

[alexjack]

The least expensive way was to shoot them, I would prefer being paroled. If you keep them as POWs you have to house, guard, and feed them.

Just seems to me that by allowing capable officers to return to the war you are making it harder for yourself.

 

[101combatvet]

I believe paroled meant that they would return home, returning to the Army violated the parole agreement.

 

[ole]

Just seems to me that by allowing capable officers to return to the war you are making it harder for yourself.

True, but it is possible that the other side has one two of yours that you want badly.

We missed a word back there: "exchanged." Parole and exchange are considerably different.

 

[M E Wolf]

Well, it also goes back to the time when gentry and officers were in a separate 'class.' There were courtesies that were extended.

Officers were frequently classmates so, old fraternities come into play in my opinion. It was a time when giving one's oath or promise, it was sincere and the person giving their oath, their word of honor--meant something. The manners were just way different than, to which I have much desire to see again.

The code of chivalry comes to mind. I suppose British officers still have such a tradition as they hold onto them dearly and our Military have their roots in British and French military protocols.

An officer without their sword, an instrument of authority--was humiliating enough when being in company of other military officers. In "arrest" regardless by their own Army superiors or an enemy's Army superiors--the further humiliation wasn't necessary in most cases, such as handcuffs and leg irons. The Old Army ways were embraced by both Armies as that was all they knew up to that point. Those who were political or civilian without West Point training and such, were more likely to be more carefully guarded yet, I am of the opinion, these officers to whom had any superior from the Old Army would have drilled the many protocols and rules of being an officer and gentleman. So paroles would more than likely be honored by officers than the average Private, dependent on the Private's class or sense of honor.

Just my thoughts and opinions,
M. E. Wolf

 

[Major James B. Ronan II]

An old practice but a major improvement over holding prisoners for ransom. Soldiers who were captured were not exchanged until they gave their parole or word that they would not fight until lawfully exchanged for a soldier of equivalent rank. Under this system the capturing power did not need to use troop assets guard or use resources to feed or care for prisoners. Plus each combatant regained the services of captured soldiers who returned to ranks. There was a sliding scale of equivalent ranks, too. Say 20 privates for a captain. The accepted penalty for violating parole if recaptured was death.

There was an exchange cartel between the US government and the rebels to handle this system.

The United States allowed the cartel to lapse late in the war because it realized that the rebels would be further weakened by diverting soldiers to guard prisoners and resources to feed them. And captured rebels could not return to the fight.

Today US military personnel are forbidden to accept parole from the enemy.

 

[thomas aagaard]

The United States allowed the cartel to lapse late in the war because it realized that the rebels would be further weakened by diverting soldiers to guard prisoners and resources to feed them. And captured rebels could not return to the fight.

And the fact that the csa would not accept the POW status of black soldies...

 

[Frederick14Va]

And the fact that the csa would not accept the POW status of black soldies...

As with any war there is the preponderance of propaganda shoveled forth from both sides of any conflict... Yes the Confederacy made such proclamations.... returning all black soldiers to slavery status... and execution of any white officers caught leading them... It was a propaganda move in attempts to curb the potential of enlisting and arming black soldiers... and white officers volunteering and willingness to lead them.... Was this threat and proclamation actually carried out in reality... No it was not... thus hardly noted as "fact"... Black soldiers that were identified as being run-away slaves if claimed were returned as the fugitive slave laws and practices still existed... Those not claimed, and the white officers captured with them... were quietly carted off to POW camps like the rest.... Captured black soldiers were typically not included in any negotiations of prisoner cartel exchange proposals... which for the most part had already ceased by that time anyway... but was a political sticky situation... what "exchange value" would be placed upon them for white soldiers... as well as CS reluctance of acknowledging that most actually were being held as POW's and had not been returned to slavery...

An interesting account that occurred in Petersburg in 1864.. A Confederate officer visiting in the city on business came by the area that recently captured prisoners both black and white were being detained.... while passing by a black soldier whom he did not know approached him with a covert proposal and plan.... Asking if the Confederate officer could come back by later and make claim that he was the owner of the black soldier... hence would be released to his custody... take him to the local slave market dealer and sell him off... the officer could keep the money made and go on his way... Asked why he would desire to orchestrate such a thing. The black soldier stated he would rather return back to the status of a slave, than to languish and probably die in a POW camp.... After much discussion and personal debate the officer later actually did return and carry out the soldiers plan.. feeling at that time he was moreso doing the soldier a favor... His chances of survival being better there than in a POW camp....

 

[Patrick H]

I believe paroled meant that they would return home, returning to the Army violated the parole agreement.

I think this is correct--up to the point of exchange. Once officially exchanged, then soldiers and officers were legally free to fight once again.

 

[Frederick14Va]

Just seems to me that by allowing capable officers to return to the war you are making it harder for yourself.

It was a trade off... yes "they" were getting officers back.... but so were you....

 

[Frederick14Va]

I believe paroled meant that they would return home, returning to the Army violated the parole agreement.

Those "paroled" generally were released from POW confinement, and not obligated nor allowed to do military duty till properly and officially "Exchanged".... Early on many were allowed to go home to await exchange... however there was the issue of getting soldiers to return in a timely manner after being declared exchanged.... also the issue as the war dragged on... many more were simply not returning at all..... The allowances of going home to wait was curbed... Advent of "Parole camps"... whereas you would go and wait there till exchanged... rather than allowed to go home.... Federals established "Camp Parole" in Annapolis Maryland, just for that purpose... After being exchanged one would normally be returned to your unit.

 

[cromagnondan]

I think this is correct--up to the point of exchange. Once officially exchanged, then soldiers and officers were legally free to fight once again.

Yes, this is my understanding as well. Early on, parolee's returning home was a problem. They often never returned. So, it was changed to parole camps where men would linger while waiting for news that they were exchanged. The camps were not necessarily distinct from other camps. For example, at Camp Chase, the parolee's would carry their parole papers with them, having a 'grand ole time' while exempt from any military duty until notified of 'exchange'. (Except for the guy I was researching, who caught a disease and died while in paroled status.)

 

[Patrick H]

Yes, this is my understanding as well. Early on, parolee's returning home was a problem. They often never returned. So, it was changed to parole camps where men would linger while waiting for news that they were exchanged. The camps were not necessarily distinct from other camps. For example, at Camp Chase, the parolee's would carry their parole papers with them, having a 'grand ole time' while exempt from any military duty until notified of 'exchange'. (Except for the guy I was researching, who caught a disease and died while in paroled status.)

In one of my books (which I can't unearth at the moment) this exact situation is described by the author. His unit essentially enjoyed a month or so of R & R in their own camp in a quiet area until their exchange was official. Then they dutifully returned to the front. It's sort of amazing to ponder this system today, but it happened.

 

[alexjack]

Thanks to all of you for this information. I knew very little of all of this.

 

[101combatvet]

Actually, I don't think all waited to be officially exchanged after being paroled. Rules can be broken.

 

[ole]

Actually, I don't think all waited to be officially exchanged after being paroled. Rules can be broken.

Rules are made to be broken and it happened -- often. Camp Douglas, in it's later year(s) also served as a "Camp Parole" when Union parolees were imprisoned to await exchange.

 

[Delhi Rangers]

I can't really see the sense of the exchange of prisoners, particularly officers and particularly good officers. If I read through biographies posted here, I will very often see that a particular officer has done great service, been captured and then a few months later been paroled only to return to battle and go on to do great things again and yet many enlisted men were kept in prisons for years. I would have thought this would have been particularly disadvantageous to the Confederacy

Here is a link to an article written about Prisoner Exchange and another about parole.

http://www.civilwarhome.com/prisonerexchange.html

http://www.civilwarhome.com/parole.html

 

[ole]

As with any war there is the preponderance of propaganda shoveled forth from both sides of any conflict... Yes the Confederacy made such proclamations.... returning all black soldiers to slavery status... and execution of any white officers caught leading them... It was a propaganda move in attempts to curb the potential of enlisting and arming black soldiers... and white officers volunteering and willingness to lead them.... Was this threat and proclamation actually carried out in reality... No it was not... thus hardly noted as "fact"... Black soldiers that were identified as being run-away slaves if claimed were returned as the fugitive slave laws and practices still existed... Those not claimed, and the white officers captured with them... were quietly carted off to POW camps like the rest.... Captured black soldiers were typically not included in any negotiations of prisoner cartel exchange proposals... which for the most part had already ceased by that time anyway... but was a political sticky situation... what "exchange value" would be placed upon them for white soldiers... as well as CS reluctance of acknowledging that most actually were being held as POW's and had not been returned to slavery... ( snipped for brevity)

Black POWs held by the Confederacy were rare. Seems they were either shot on the spot, returned to their former owners, or set to work for the Confederate Army. Hardly propaganda.

The Confederate refusal to include Black Union POWs was the primary reason exchanges stopped. A pretty good secondary reason was that Grant was pretty p*ssed off that Confederate parolees often showed up on a battlefield without being exchanged. How that was known is a mystery.