lelliott19
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...He also desires me to express his willingness to parole and return to you the prisoners taken since your passage of the Rappahannock.
Am I the only one who didn't already know about this?
Apparently, the arrangements for the exchange were made between Longstreet and Maj Gen John G Parke:
https://books.google.com/books?id=c...UAhWGeCYKHW2fAUMQ6AEIJDAA#v=onepage&q&f=false
John Hamilton Skelton, Captain of Co C 16th Georgia was one of the prisoners who benefited from the exchange. He was the only member of the 16th Georgia Infantry listed as "missing" immediately after the Battle of Fredericksburg.
On December 11, 1862, when the lower pontoon bridges were laid, and Franklin's Division streamed across, the 3rd Ark, 1st TX, 4th TX, and 5th TX regiments (Robertson's Brigade/Hood's Division /Longstreet's Corps) fell back, having given up the ground between the Rappahannock and the Bowling Green Road. Lt Col Wm H Luse's 18th Mississippi Infantry (Barksdale's Brigade, McLaws' Division, Longstreet's Corps) was in danger of being flanked. Recognizing the situation as critical, McLaws sent two regiments to support Luse - the 15th SC (Kershaw's Brigade) and the 16th Georgia (TRR Cobb's Brigade.) The 16th Georgia moved to the left of the 18th MS, extending their line along Deep Run to the river. Three companies of the 15th SC served as skirmishers in front. The fresh regiments drew artillery fire and sometime during the melee on Dec 11, 1862, Capt John Hamilton Skelton disappeared. (The carded record says Dec 13, but the list of casualties specifically says Dec 11, 1862)
When I first saw him listed as missing with date 12/11/62, I thought he must have been somewhere else. But then I saw this record and learned of the onsite exchange of prisoners.
@Podad
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