POWs from Camp Ford, TX

[Nathanb1]

Found this on my favorite Facebook page, Traces of Texas....

"POWs from Camp Ford, Texas, photographed upon arrival in New Orleans after a prisoner exchange, 1864 or 1865. These men are non-commissioned officers from the 19th Iowa Infantry. Camp Ford was the largest Confederate POW camp west of the Mississippi, housing up to 4700 Federals at one time. Conditions at the camp, though primitive, are said to have been generally humane, relatively speaking. Look how tattered their pants and shirts are. I would imagine it was quite a journey from Tyler to New Orleans for them. As far as I can tell, none are wearing shoes but all have hats on."

I suspect the guy with the big sombrero traded for it....

 

[Nathanb1]

Whoa....the guy fourth from right, back row, doesn't have a shirt on. I mistook that hairy chest for clothing.

 

[bdtex]

Found this on my favorite Facebook page, Traces of Texas....

"POWs from Camp Ford, Texas, photographed upon arrival in New Orleans after a prisoner exchange, 1864 or 1865. These men are non-commissioned officers from the 19th Iowa Infantry. Camp Ford was the largest Confederate POW camp west of the Mississippi, housing up to 4700 Federals at one time. Conditions at the camp, though primitive, are said to have been generally humane, relatively speaking. Look how tattered their pants and shirts are. I would imagine it was quite a journey from Tyler to New Orleans for them. As far as I can tell, none are wearing shoes but all have hats on."

View attachment 158762

I suspect the guy with the big sombrero traded for it....

My recollection from my visit there is that they had a good clean water supply,which obviously cut down on disease and dehydration,and the food was much better by CW POW Camp standards.

 

[AUG]

The 19th Iowa was captured in mass at the battle of Stirling's Plantation, La., by Tom Green's Texas cavalry and most were sent to Camp Ford.

Here's another photo of officers of the 19th Iowa after their exchange. Like the hats, wonder whether they acquired those while prisoners or were wearing them before their capture. They were Iowans, after all.

http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/cwp2003004634/PP/

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

Terrific pictures, thank you! Same men? You wonder how weird it felt to wear shoes again.

You know, you see these men- and please, no atrocity photos, we understand they occurred, but speaking of these photos. Prison life was horrendous, both sides. We see smiling men. The human spirit flattens you- these guys could be standing outside their favorite brewery.

 

[Robert Gray]

One more from the same place.

 

[Nathanb1]

And there's our guy with the giant hat, standing in right center. Gosh, I wish someone would figure out who he was! He has real panache!

 

[Pollaco]

Other POW camps used older men or young boys as guards. What sort of guards were used at Camp Ford?

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

Other POW camps used older men or young boys as guards. What sort of guards were used at Camp Ford?

Usually cavalry and dismounted cavalry regiments and companies that were sent to Tyler. Everything I've found indicates a lack of local militia or "home guard" protecting the camp. The garrison was rotated pretty frequently too.