Prisoner Exchanges Question

[Amanda72]

Hey - I know you guys have a ton of knowledge so I think I've come to the right place for an answer to a question we have! In researching family members who served in the NC Troops, there are a few folks for which there is a note that they were exchanged for .... But the odd thing is in two cases the soldier listed is a soldier *in* my family members' same unit. That doesn't make sense. Do you think this is an error in recordkeeping or is there another explanation?
Thanks,
Amanda

 

[lelliott19]

Hi @Amanda72 Welcome to CivilWarTalk, the best forum on the internet for Civil War discussion! Happy to have you aboard!

In the Confederate records, when it says <Name> exchanged for <Name> it usually refers to a transfer from another regiment into or out of the current regiment or perhaps a transfer from one company to another within the same regiment. So for example, say John Smith originally enlisted in the 3rd Georgia. Maybe other family members were in the 18th Georgia or perhaps more men from his neighborhood were in the 18th. He might prefer to serve with his cousins or people from home that he knew. Or perhaps his uncle was an officer in the 18th Georgia. Whatever the reason, he prefer to serve in the 18th Georgia - even though he originally enlisted in the 3rd. So he would request a transfer to the 18th. The officers would agree only if there was a man in the 18th who was willing to go to the 3rd. Same with a transfer from one company to another. So the records of the 18th might say "John Smith Pvt. exchanged for Joe Jones,." Sometimes the record will say "Pvt John Smith exchanged for Pvt Joe Jones, 3rd Ga Inf" Hope that answers your question?

When POWs (prisoners) were exchanged, it is very rare that the name of the man exchanged for is listed. As far as I know, only officers were specified exchanges. I have reviewed the records of over 1200 men in the regiment I study and have only seen ONE that names the man for which the exchange was made - that was a Ga Major exchanged for an Indiana Lt Col.

Again, welcome aboard.

 

[Amanda72]

THANK YOU so much for the explanation. Your knowledge and experience has proven my theory that I'm in the company of the right people! Thanks!!!!

 

[UCVRelics]

When CS or US soldiers were captured they had to sign a parole stating that would not bear arms or any other military service until exchanged. Below is a captured CS soldiers parole. Most CS troops were sent to a parole camp until exchanged. When Gen Grant took over he put a stop to the exchange program as he felt that a Union soldier went home a Confederate soldier went home for 30 days and went back to the fight. Grant said that under this program we will have to fight the South till the last man. This is one of the reason that led to places like Andersonville.

 

[Amanda72]

THANK YOU!!!! Very helpful information!