P.O.Ws held by own side?

[6yanks+2rebs=1me]

I was researching my 3rd great grandfather who was in Spencer West Virginia when the Union army present there was fooled into surrendering to a much smaller Confederate force. I was surprised to find that he signed an agreement not to fight until he was "exchanged" but never set foot in an enemy P.O.W camp. He was allowed to continue all his duties except actual fighting and many Union P.O.Ws we're in Union P.O.W. camps Im sure conditions were far superior to being in an enemy camp. It's just strange to me that in such a brutal war there were agreements made like that. My question is, we're the soldiers who were under such agreements forced to honor them by their respective sides? Why did some go to enemy camps? Was this just for C.Os and N.C.Os? I noticed My 3rd great grandfathers parole paper states he was a private when in fact he was a sergeant at the time. Was rank something hidden if possible? The Civil war has a way of providing more questions with every answer.

 

[drezac]

early in the war, parole of captured soldiers was quite common. Once captured, the individual would sign parole papers, agreeing not to fight until properly exchanged. sometimes they went to camps on their own side to wait for exchange, other times they went home until notified to report back for duty. At times, both sides would meet and "exchange" prisoners, each going through their list of paroled men and agreeing who will be released from parole. The men who were released from parole could then rejoin their regiment and continue fighting.


There is a good example that happened with Capt. Cotter of 1st Ohio Battery A. He was captured during battle. While he was being held, he was given access to the town with an accompanying guard, on his honor to not escape. He was then paroled, and signed the papers. However, the Confederate were not sure they could safely escort him across the battlefield, and kept him there for a few days until they could safely escort him back across the lines. Once back on the Union side of the lines, as he passed through camp, he stopped by General Buells tent and told him about what he saw behind the enemy lines. Cotter then went back to Ravenna Ohio and recruited additional men for Battery A.

General Buell was brought up on Court Martial for his actions at this battle, and brought in Capt. Cotter as a witness. When he testified about how he had stopped by Buells tent and told him about what he had seen, they stopped the Court Martial and began to question Cotter as to if he had violated the terms of his parole by telling Buell about what he had seen. This is a good example of how serious they took the issue of parole and honoring the parole agreement.

As the war went on, this system began to break down, and eventually was stopped.

 

[Kyle Kalasnik]

Very interesting.

I have read of something like this ( I cannot for the life of me recall what the book was).

I believe, if I recall correctly this was done at the beginning of the war.

The prisoners were on their honor, not to fight again until properly exchanged.

Someone, who is much more intelligent and knowledgeable than me will have the correct answers.

The rank situation with your ancestor has sparked my curiosity too.

 

[lupaglupa]

I know some of my folks in Mississippi spent time in parole camps after being captured. It was a sort of military purgatory - not captured, not released. Many confederates signed parole papers stating they would not take up arms again and then promptly returned to their companies. This (among many other reasons) turned the Union against parole for captured rebels.

As to hiding rank, that might have been a smart move, though the difference between a private and a sergeant wouldn't have mattered nearly as much as the difference between a private and a commissioned officer. Officers were more likely to be detained than the rank and file. Still, your ancestor could have figured claiming to be a private would help him get exchanged faster.

 

[6yanks+2rebs=1me]

I know some of my folks in Mississippi spent time in parole camps after being captured. It was a sort of military purgatory - not captured, not released. Many confederates signed parole papers stating they would not take up arms again and then promptly returned to their companies. This (among many other reasons) turned the Union against parole for captured rebels.

As to hiding rank, that might have been a smart move, though the difference between a private and a sergeant wouldn't have mattered nearly as much as the difference between a private and a commissioned officer. Officers were more likely to be detained than the rank and file. Still, your ancestor could have figured claiming to be a private would help him get exchanged faster.

He eventually was promoted to 2nd Lt. Unfortunately Lt. William Walker Curtis was K.I.A. Aug 4 1864 at 31yrs old. Other than my father he's my favorite Curtis to talk about...

 

[RedRover]

In his diary, Sergeant Robert Watson of Company K, 7th Florida CSA mentions a similar condition. After being left sick in the mountains during Kirby Smith's march into Kentucky in late '62, he and several comrades were captured and paroled by US cavalry. They made their way back to Knoxville, TN, and remained penned in camp awaiting exchange. Watson and some others had enough of the cold weather and bad food, etc. and went home to Tampa Bay without permission to await a change in their legal status...

 

[Lampasas Bill]

According to the laws of war observed at the time, a soldier who was captured after breaking his parole forfeited his life.