Paroled Prisoner

[BabyBird]

In my research into my family tree, one of my distant cousins served in the Civil War. It says in the remarks "Deserted 1863 while a paroled prisoner at Annapolis, MD." I've searched everywhere trying to figure out what this means. I understand he was a P.O.W. He was a confederate soldier enrolled on 19 Aug 1861 and Fold3.com has really no info on him. Could someone explain exactly what his did...?

 

[AndyHall]

Based solely on what you've said, it sounds like he was given his parole to leave the camp or barracks where he was temporarily -- a day pass, maybe? -- and he took that opportunity to skedaddle. I don't recall seeing an entry like that before. What happened to him after?

 

[East Tennessee Roots]

In my research into my family tree, one of my distant cousins served in the Civil War. It says in the remarks "Deserted 1863 while a paroled prisoner at Annapolis, MD." I've searched everywhere trying to figure out what this means. I understand he was a P.O.W. He was a confederate soldier enrolled on 19 Aug 1861 and Fold3.com has really no info on him. Could someone explain exactly what his did...?

If he was a Confederate captured by the Union Army, he was "paroled" by them instead of sending him to a P.O.W. camp. He had agreed not to fight again until he was "exchanged", (A Union soldier released in his place by the Confederates). While he was waiting to be exchanged he "deserted" the Confederates. It's very possible he may have joined the Union Army, it might pay you to check.

 

[AndyHall]

This may be part of your answer -- note there was a parole camp at Annapolis, and others close by.

 

[BabyBird]

He was with the
78th Regiment
Pennsylvania Volunteers
Company E

Recruited in Clarion County

He married in 1867 and lived until he was 75 years old.
I'd run too...

 

[BabyBird]

Thanks Andy!! What a great photo

 

[AndyHall]

He was with the
78th Regiment
Pennsylvania Volunteers
Company E

Recruited in Clarion County

He married in 1867 and lived until he was 75 years old.
I'd run too...

Was he a Confederate or a Federal?

 

[BabyBird]

If he was a Confederate captured by the Union Army, he was "paroled" by them instead of sending him to a P.O.W. camp. He had agreed not to fight again until he was "exchanged", (A Union soldier released in his place by the Confederates). While he was waiting to be exchanged he "deserted" the Confederates. It's very possible he may have joined the Union Army, it might pay you to check.

I was wrong. He was a Union soldier.

 

[AndyHall]

That changes things somewhat. The parole camp was for captured Confederates. Perhaps if you shared his name it might be possible to find out more.

 

[BabyBird]

If he did just walk out, what would the repercussions have been?

 

[BabyBird]

Slater , Even W.
Battle Unit Name: 78th Regiment, Pennsylvania Infantry
Side: Union
Company: E
Soldier's Rank In: Private
Soldier's Rank Out: Private
Alternate name: Even W./Slator
Film Number: M554 ROLL 113
Plaque Number: Notes: General Note - Original filed under Even W./Slator
He is also in this list :
http://www.pa-roots.com/pacw/infantry/78th/78thcoe.html

 

[AndyHall]

Ok, here we go. It looks to me like he started out as a Confederate prisoner at the parole camp at Annapolis, deserted from there in the summer of 1863, and subsequently joined the 78th Pennsylvania in August 1864.

Are others reading it that way?

ETA: I linked rather than posted directly, because it looks like CWT is automatically down-sizing large image files.

 

[AndyHall]

So here he is in Clarion County, Pennsylvania in 1860.

His father was Christian Slater. I had no idea he was that old.

 

[AndyHall]

And this is odd -- it's a modern printout of a database of burials of veterans, and it lists him with the alias "Evan Gold." What's up with that?

 

[AndyHall]

Wut?

Name:

Evan S. Gold

Side: Union

Regiment State/Origin: Pennsylvania

Regiment: 2nd Regiment, Pennsylvania Cavalry (59th Volunteers)

Company: M

Rank In: Private

Rank Out: Private

Alternate Name: Even W./Slator

Film Number: M554 roll 44

Other Records: Learn More about this Regiment

 

[BabyBird]

Hmmm, that's really odd. I am so impressed with what you've posted!

View attachment 130187

So here he is in Clarion County, Pennsylvania in 1860.

His father was Christian Slater. I had no idea he was that old.

Christian Slater was my 4th great-grandfather. Evan was 20 when he was enrolled in 1861

 

[AndyHall]

I was making a dumb joke about the actor. I make a lot of dumb jokes.

Ordinarily I would have read these records showing that he was originally a Confederate, was captured, dropped in the parole camp at Annapolis, and then deserted. Sometime later he "galvanized" and joined the 78 Pennsylvania cavalry. But then he's right back there in the same place in Pennsylvania before the war, living with his parents. So I have no idea.

 

[BabyBird]

I was making a dumb joke about the actor. I make a lot of dumb jokes.

Ordinarily I would have read these records showing that he was originally a Confederate, was captured, dropped in the parole camp at Annapolis, and then deserted. Sometime later he "galvanized" and joined the 78 Pennsylvania cavalry. But then he's right back there in the same place in Pennsylvania before the war, living with his parents. So I have no idea.

Lol, I didn't even make the connection last night. I was so tired. I looked up the regiment to see where they went and where some of these men might have been taken prisoner. Is there a way to find out what date he might have been taken as a POW?

 

[Bruce Vail]

View attachment 130177

This may be part of your answer -- note there was a parole camp at Annapolis, and others close by.

There is now a town in Md. called 'Parole' that grew up on the site of the camp(s). It's just outside of Annapolis.

 

[ErnieMac]

Camp Parole was also used to house Union troops that had been captured by the Confederates and subsequently released under parole until they had been exchanged for captured Confederates. Rather than send the soldiers home the Federal Army kept them in camps until they were exchanged so they could be quickly returned to their units when the exchange occurred. Some of the most notable examples were the troops Stonewall Jackson's command captured at Harper's Ferry during the Maryland Campaign. It seems like Evan Slater was captured by the Confederates, released on parole and then deserted from the Union Army.