Officials want Confederate POW camp in Blackshear preserved - FL

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Officials want Confederate POW camp in Blackshear preserved
Camp was used for two months in 1864 when Andersonville was evacuated
Posted: February 2, 2013 - 8:51pm
JView this story on the All-Access Members site





[email protected] Tommy Lowmon, director of tourism and economic development for Blackshear, stands with a historical marker that is the only indication that a Confederate POW camp was located northwest of the city during Sherman's march through Georgia. Lowmon and some state officials would like an archaeological study of the site.

By Terry Dickson
BLACKSHEAR | A historical marker sits shaded by trees on the shoulder of Georgia 203, where city outskirts fade to full country.

The marker is the only indication that 5,000 Union prisoners of war and their 700 Confederate guards once bedded down on land that slopes down gently to what was once a free flowing creek. The creek has dried up and trees cover most of the 35-acre site.

But local and state officials think there’s evidence in the ground and they want an archaeological study done to find it. The county owns 2.7 acres of the site and two separate owners the rest.

Barry Brown, a historical tourism specialist for the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, said being fully undeveloped, the grounds are in the best possible condition for a study.

Tommy Lowmon, who directs in tourism development for Blackshear, says from all accounts the land is pretty much as it was — except for some farming and volunteer trees — since the POWs were moved after a two-month stay.

The POWs were moved from the infamous camp at Andersonville during Sherman’s march through Georgia, Brown said.

Because Sherman’s route was unknown to the Confederates, they didn’t want to take a chance on his going to Andersonville, Brown said.

“They didn’t want to see Sherman coming to Georgia and releasing 30,000 Union prisoners,’’ Brown said.

In November and December of 1864, the Confederates moved about 5,000 each to Thomasville and Blackshear and about 10,000 to Millen at what is now Magnolia Springs State Park, he said.

The site of the Thomasville camp is preserved and the earthen berms are still visible, Brown said.

Beginning about five years ago, the Georgia Southern University archaeology department began an archaeological dig at Magnolia Springs based on old drawings and watercolors of the camp, Brown said.

“They found a lot of artifacts,’’ he said.

Who knows what they would find at the Blackshear site, but Lowmon said some people have been known to look.

“There were stories about kids throwing cannon balls in the creek,’’ and one of the private landowners said he’s run off people with metal detectors, Lowmon said.

There are also written accounts of some prisoners dying and being buried on the grounds, which Brown said was realistic given the POWs’ horrid living conditions and poor diets at Andersonville.

“They died on the train ride over. They died in the camp,’’ he said.

Twenty-seven who were buried there were disinterred and their remains moved to a federal cemetery in Beaufort, S.C., Brown said.

Brown said he would like some ground-penetrating radar used at the site to determine if there are artifacts. If so an archaeology team from a state university could do a study.

“It would require a lot of precision work,’’ he said.

Lowmon said he at least would like for someone to find the location of the burial ground, thought to be in a wooded area.

Were the site developed, it would become a stop for historic tourists, especially for those with an interest in the Civil War, Lowmon said.

The pity is that it wasn’t done before the 150th anniversary of the war began but there’s still time left, he said.

Establishing the site also has historic value, Brown said.

“It places the Civil War front farther out,’’ he said.

Terry Dickson: (912) 264-0405



Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville.com/news/georgi...e-pow-camp-blackshear-preserved#ixzz2JrzEWc3B
 
Officials want Confederate POW camp in Blackshear preserved
Camp was used for two months in 1864 when Andersonville was evacuated
Posted: February 2, 2013 - 8:51pm
JView this story on the All-Access Members site





[email protected] Tommy Lowmon, director of tourism and economic development for Blackshear, stands with a historical marker that is the only indication that a Confederate POW camp was located northwest of the city during Sherman's march through Georgia. Lowmon and some state officials would like an archaeological study of the site.

By Terry Dickson
BLACKSHEAR | A historical marker sits shaded by trees on the shoulder of Georgia 203, where city outskirts fade to full country.

The marker is the only indication that 5,000 Union prisoners of war and their 700 Confederate guards once bedded down on land that slopes down gently to what was once a free flowing creek. The creek has dried up and trees cover most of the 35-acre site.

But local and state officials think there’s evidence in the ground and they want an archaeological study done to find it. The county owns 2.7 acres of the site and two separate owners the rest.

Barry Brown, a historical tourism specialist for the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, said being fully undeveloped, the grounds are in the best possible condition for a study.

Tommy Lowmon, who directs in tourism development for Blackshear, says from all accounts the land is pretty much as it was — except for some farming and volunteer trees — since the POWs were moved after a two-month stay.

The POWs were moved from the infamous camp at Andersonville during Sherman’s march through Georgia, Brown said.

Because Sherman’s route was unknown to the Confederates, they didn’t want to take a chance on his going to Andersonville, Brown said.

“They didn’t want to see Sherman coming to Georgia and releasing 30,000 Union prisoners,’’ Brown said.

In November and December of 1864, the Confederates moved about 5,000 each to Thomasville and Blackshear and about 10,000 to Millen at what is now Magnolia Springs State Park, he said.

The site of the Thomasville camp is preserved and the earthen berms are still visible, Brown said.

Beginning about five years ago, the Georgia Southern University archaeology department began an archaeological dig at Magnolia Springs based on old drawings and watercolors of the camp, Brown said.

“They found a lot of artifacts,’’ he said.

Who knows what they would find at the Blackshear site, but Lowmon said some people have been known to look.

“There were stories about kids throwing cannon balls in the creek,’’ and one of the private landowners said he’s run off people with metal detectors, Lowmon said.

There are also written accounts of some prisoners dying and being buried on the grounds, which Brown said was realistic given the POWs’ horrid living conditions and poor diets at Andersonville.

“They died on the train ride over. They died in the camp,’’ he said.

Twenty-seven who were buried there were disinterred and their remains moved to a federal cemetery in Beaufort, S.C., Brown said.

Brown said he would like some ground-penetrating radar used at the site to determine if there are artifacts. If so an archaeology team from a state university could do a study.

“It would require a lot of precision work,’’ he said.

Lowmon said he at least would like for someone to find the location of the burial ground, thought to be in a wooded area.

Were the site developed, it would become a stop for historic tourists, especially for those with an interest in the Civil War, Lowmon said.

The pity is that it wasn’t done before the 150th anniversary of the war began but there’s still time left, he said.

Establishing the site also has historic value, Brown said.

“It places the Civil War front farther out,’’ he said.

Terry Dickson: (912) 264-0405



Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville.com/news/georgi...e-pow-camp-blackshear-preserved#ixzz2JrzEWc3B

It would have saved the Confederates a lot of bother if they could have foreseen Sherman’s lack of interests in union POWs at Andersonville.

Lieutenant Charles Brown (21st Michigan) describing a Confederate attack on his position at Bentonville: “stood as long as a man could stand and when that was no longer a possibility we run like the duce.”
The Battle of Bentonville, 19-21 March 1865
 
I honestly didn't know about this segment of the Andersonville saga! I did a bit of looking on the net about this. Would be neat if there was some interest in this, and some kind of survey and maybe a university run dig like they did at Camp Ford, Texas. Would be neat to see some of the artifacts that could be brought to light.
Thanks for bringing it up!:thumbsup:

Kevin Dally
 
I honestly didn't know about this segment of the Andersonville saga! I did a bit of looking on the net about this. Would be neat if there was some interest in this, and some kind of survey and maybe a university run dig like they did at Camp Ford, Texas. Would be neat to see some of the artifacts that could be brought to light.
Thanks for bringing it up!:thumbsup:

Kevin Dally

My pleasure, Kevin.
 
"It would have saved the Confederates a lot of bother if they could have foreseen Sherman’s lack of interests in union POWs at Andersonville."

POWs are the "interest" and responsibility of those that hold them. Trying to shift the burden of blame is ridiculuos.

The Confederates could have saved the union a lot of bother if they had foreseen their inevitable defeat and packed it in before so many more died in a fruitless effort.
 
"It would have saved the Confederates a lot of bother if they could have foreseen Sherman’s lack of interests in union POWs at Andersonville."

POWs are the "interest" and responsibility of those that hold them. Trying to shift the burden of blame is ridiculuos.

The Confederates could have saved the union a lot of bother if they had foreseen their inevitable defeat and packed it in before so many more died in a fruitless effort.


Perhaps, but Sherman’s indifference to the fate of his country’s own POWs is unconscionable.

In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes an act of rebellion."
George Orwell
 
Not "perhaps" for certain. Those that hold POWs are solely responsible for what happens to them. Both sides suffered dearly from the failure of the other to live up to this basic rule of war. The blame lies with those responsible for their care not commanders of units actively involved in other aspects of the conflict.

Sherman had no obligation in regards to POWs held by the Confederacy. His job was to defeat the Army's opposing him. He did well at that.
 
Not "perhaps" for certain. Those that hold POWs are solely responsible for what happens to them. Both sides suffered dearly from the failure of the other to live up to this basic rule of war. The blame lies with those responsible for their care not commanders of units actively involved in other aspects of the conflict.

Sherman had no obligation in regards to POWs held by the Confederacy. His job was to defeat the Army's opposing him. He did well at that.

Yeah, and the Confederate government’s priority was defense of the country. If Sherman didn’t care about “Billy Blue Belly” why should the Confederate government care more?

“The aggressor in a war is not the first to use force but the first to make force necessary.”
Alexander Stephens
 
"If Sherman didn’t care about “Billy Blue Belly” why should the Confederate government care more?"

Because the Confederate government had a requirement to do so, Sherman had no requirment concerning the POWs held by the Confederacy in Andersonville or anywhere else.

This foolish argument is nothing more than an attempt to pass along some of the blame for this disgraceful incident.

BTW I am in favor of preserving any and all Civil War sites and have contributed (mosestly) to these efforts.
 
The following account about Camp Lawton in Millen, GA is from The Journal History of the Seventy Third Ohio Infantry by Col. Samuel H. Hurst. My GG Grandfather was in Company K:

journalhistoryof00hursam_0165.jpg
journalhistoryof00hursam_0166.jpg
 
"If Sherman didn’t care about “Billy Blue Belly” why should the Confederate government care more?"

Because the Confederate government had a requirement to do so, Sherman had no requirment concerning the POWs held by the Confederacy in Andersonville or anywhere else.

This foolish argument is nothing more than an attempt to pass along some of the blame for this disgraceful incident.

BTW I am in favor of preserving any and all Civil War sites and have contributed (mosestly) to these efforts.

The Confederate government did care for the enemy POWs not that markedly different from the treatment of their own POWs in the hands of the enemy government. In any case, neither side’s POWs would have suffered so much had not Grant and the Lincoln regime concluded that a man for man exchange of prisoners gave an undue advantage to the CSA.

Lieutenant Charles Brown (21st Michigan) describing a Confederate attack on his position at Bentonville: “stood as long as a man could stand and when that was no longer a possibility we run like the duce.”
The Battle of Bentonville, 19-21 March 1865
 
In any case, neither side’s POWs would have suffered so much had not Grant and the Lincoln regime concluded that a man for man exchange of prisoners gave an undue advantage to the CSA.


I won't comment on the slanted and ridiculous nature of this characterization other than to say it is another lame stab at the Union in an attempt to shift some portion of the blame for this disgraceful incident.

The decision to no longer engage in prisoner enchanges, however, did nothing to relief the Confederate or Union government of their requirement to properly care for POWs. Something neither did well and something that cannot be blamed, even in part, on Sherman or any other soldier in the field.
 
There were probably mutliple causes for the criminally poor care of POWs, on both sides. My beef is with attempting to place the blame for any portion of it on those not responsible. This would include Sherman and any other soldier, Union or Confederate, still in the field.

The cancellation of the one for one swaps, certainly tremendously increased the number of POWs being held by both sides and complicated the issue of their proper care. It did not, however, relieve either side of the responsibility to properly care for POWs.
 
Sherman was not about to endanger his command of 60,000 healthy to rescue a prison full of sick and starving men. As it was, his men were eating rice before taking Savannah and getting their resupply. He played it close to the wire.
 
"Sherman was not about to endanger his command of 60,000 healthy to rescue a prison full of sick and starving men. As it was, his men were eating rice before taking Savannah and getting their resupply. He played it close to the wire."

You are correct, he wasn't about to do it because it would have threatened the success of his actual mission. Nor did he have any obligation to do so. The obligation rested with the confederate forces holding the POWs. Silly attempts to place part of the blame for the Andersonville tragedy on Sherman or the cancellation of the prisoner swaps are nothing more than lame attempts at diversion from these facts.
 
The responsibility for what happened at Andersonville lay completely with the Confederates. Sherman's offensive across Georgia and the decision to stop POW swaps are completely seperate issues removed in every way from the conditions at Andersonville.
 
Part of Sherman's army went through Camp Lawton. The conditions there did tend to tick the Yanks off more than they already were. But it was in the army's route.
 
Grant and the Lincoln regime concluded that a man for man exchange of prisoners gave an undue advantage to the CSA.

This is just silly. A one for one exchange favored no one.
 
O
"If Sherman didn’t care about “Billy Blue Belly” why should the Confederate government care more?"

Because the Confederate government had a requirement to do so, Sherman had no requirment concerning the POWs held by the Confederacy in Andersonville or anywhere else.

This foolish argument is nothing more than an attempt to pass along some of the blame for this disgraceful incident.

BTW I am in favor of preserving any and all Civil War sites and have contributed (mosestly) to these efforts.
BTW! CW30 the "requirement" that you speak of is a post ACW idea orginating in Europe to be put forth in the Geneva Conventions on Land Warfare. Neither side during the AWC were bound by ANY international agreements on the treatment of POWs.
 
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