POWs

[dixie1861]

When a soldier was taken prisoner on the battlefield, where would he be taken immediately after? Was there a sort of "holding area" before they were taken to main prison camps?

Thanks guys!

 

[leftyhunter]

When a soldier was taken prisoner on the battlefield, where would he be taken immediately after? Was there a sort of "holding area" before they were taken to main prison camps?

Thanks guys!

A good book that covers this subject is "Yankee Rebel" I have the book at home I forgot his name. The author was from Ohio but enlisted in the 6th Alabama. The author was captured at Gettysburg and spent over a year at Johnson Island in Ohio.
The book "Company Atoch" by Sam Watkins also covers this when Watkins was briefly captured by Sherman's March through Georgia.
Overall security at POW Camps on both sides was overall pretty bad and lots of escapes. Camp conditions were also terrible. American Pow camps in WW2 by comparison were 5 star resorts.
Leftyhunter

 

[East Tennessee Roots]

When a soldier was taken prisoner on the battlefield, where would he be taken immediately after? Was there a sort of "holding area" before they were taken to main prison camps?

Thanks guys!

My Confederate 2 x great-grandfather, was captured April 2, 1865, "on the south-side railroad", during the Union breakthrough at Petersburg, VA. He was "processed" at City Point, Va. and sent to Hart's Island, NY Harbor.

 

[huskerblitz]

Generally, yes. Around Vicksburg, captured Union soldiers were held in a dilapidated bridge before being marched to a prison camp.

 

[leftyhunter]

When a soldier was taken prisoner on the battlefield, where would he be taken immediately after? Was there a sort of "holding area" before they were taken to main prison camps?

Thanks guys!

For sure you need to get this book"Yankee Rebel Civil War journal of DeWitt Patterson University of North Carolina Press.Uou should get a decent used copy at a reasonable price from Amazon or Abes Books.
Leftyhunter

 

[mofederal]

Where did they keep the prisoners before Vicksburg fell? I mean some had to be captured after they were surrounded. Where were they kept.

 

[Viper21]

A great picture of some Confederate POW's. Although, not the fellas close in the picture, the fellas seated deep in the picture. I do not know where they were taken after this picture was taken. I've seen this picture a few times, & it referenced as Confederate POW's in the Shenandoah Valley.

 

[East Tennessee Roots]

Where did they keep the prisoners before Vicksburg fell? I mean some had to be captured after they were surrounded. Where were they kept.

My relative, John Copass was captured 5/17/1863, at Black River Bridge, he arrived at Fort Delaware 5/25/1863, he died there in October.

His brother Richard, a Lieutenant, captured the same day, was sent to Johnson's Island, OH, arriving 6/5/1863. He died in August.

 

[Ole Miss]

I had on GGGrandfather, with the 3rd NC Infantry, captured at Payne's Farm November 27, 1863. He was sent to the Old Capitol Prison on December 3. Onward to Point Lookout, February 4, 1864 then exchanged September 18, 1864. He went home and stayed there till the war was over.

I had another CGGrandfather , with the 29th VA Infantry, captured at Dinwiddie Court House, April 1, 1865. Sent on to Hart's Island via City Point arrived April 7 and died May 23, 1865 of Typhoid Fever. He joined in April of 1862 and almost made it home but was just short by 9 days or so when captured.
Regards
David

 

[AUG]

Usually taken to a holding area before being shipped off to a POW camp. Edit: I should say that directly after being captured in battle they were usually gathered at a designated point in the rear, then they might've been sent to one or more staging areas before being transported to or while on their way to prison camps.

There's also the famous Belle Plain Landing, Va., "punch bowl" images of Confederate prisoners. Most of these men are thought to be from Ed Johnson's division, captured at the Spotsylvania Mule Shoe on May 12 and held at Belle Plain before being shipped North.

Also this image of Confederate prisoners, taken at White House Landing, Va., June 1864.

 

[Viper21]

I had on GGGrandfather, with the 3rd NC Infantry, captured at Payne's Farm November 27, 1863. He was sent to the Old Capitol Prison on December 3. Onward to Point Lookout, February 4, 1864 then exchanged September 18, 1864. He went home and stayed there till the war was over.

I had another CGGrandfather , with the 29th VA Infantry, captured at Dinwiddie Court House, April 1, 1865. Sent on to Hart's Island via City Point arrived April 7 and died May 23, 1865 of Typhoid Fever. He joined in April of 1862 and almost made it home but was just short by 9 days or so when captured.
Regards
CDavid

I have a few ancestors who did time at Point Lookout. A couple Uncle's who were for sure there the same time as your GG Grandpa. One was captured on the retreat from Gettysburg @ falling waters, MD 14 July '63. Exchanged 3 Mar '64.

Another that was captured 7 Nov '63 (Rappahannock) exchanged 2 mar '64

Lastly, I had a GGG Grandfather who was captured 6 April '65 (Burkesville, VA) & taken to Point Lookout. He was released 23 June '65

 

[Rebforever]

When a soldier was taken prisoner on the battlefield, where would he be taken immediately after? Was there a sort of "holding area" before they were taken to main prison camps?

Thanks guys!

Montgomery Park in Staunton, Va. was used as a staging area to meet the Virginia Central railroad that carried them to Richmond, Va. Those prisoners were mostly from the Shenandoah Valley and from Gettysburg.

 

[Podad]

If you can get a copy of "Grandpas War Stories " the author tells of being captured at Gettysburg and details of transfer and time at Point Lookout. He was with the 24th Ga.

 

[Gentizzy]

My great grandfather's oldest brother was in the 1st LA (Montgomery Guards). On two occasions was caught then exchanged. In May 1864 he was taken prisoner at Spotsylvania Courthouse, sent to Pt Lookout, MD, then at some point sent to Elmira.

 

[dixie1861]

A good book that covers this subject is "Yankee Rebel" I have the book at home I forgot his name. The author was from Ohio but enlisted in the 6th Alabama. The author was captured at Gettysburg and spent over a year at Johnson Island in Ohio.
The book "Company Atoch" by Sam Watkins also covers this when Watkins was briefly captured by Sherman's March through Georgia.
Overall security at POW Camps on both sides was overall pretty bad and lots of escapes. Camp conditions were also terrible. American Pow camps in WW2 by comparison were 5 star resorts.
Leftyhunter

Thanks for telling me about those!

 

[dixie1861]

A great picture of some Confederate POW's. Although, not the fellas close in the picture, the fellas seated deep in the picture. I do not know where they were taken after this picture was taken. I've seen this picture a few times, & it referenced as Confederate POW's in the Shenandoah Valley.

Thanks for the pictures. Doesn't look like much security going on there...

 

[lelliott19]

Thanks for the pictures. Doesn't look like much security going on there...

Not much security was needed. Once captured, men were resigned to their fate. There was a lot of "sense of honor" back then that is difficult for us to understand and translate today.

 

[dixie1861]

Not much security was needed. Once captured, men were resigned to their fate. There was a lot of "sense of honor" back then that is difficult for us to understand and translate today.

Very true.