meeting place, holding place
It’s May 1st somewhere …
Since the beginning of the war Elmira served as a rendezvous point for New York soldiers heading south. Here’s evidence that Union soldier miscreants were also confined there and that Confederate prisoners would soon be on the way.
From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in April 1864:
SOLDIERS AT ELMIRA. – The Gazette says there were 1579 men in the Barracks at Elmira, on Thursday of last week, of which 200 were under arrest for various causes – 82 were sick.
Also from a Seneca County newspaper sometime in April 1864:
TO BE EXECUTED. – A soldier named STEWART, who is under the sentence of death for poisoning his guards at Elmira, is to be executed to-day. His death warrant was read to him on Friday last.
From a Seneca County, New York newspaper sometime in May 1864:
REBEL PRISONERS AT ELMIRA. – The Elmira papers state that orders have been received by the military authorities there, from Washington, for the accomodation [sic] of 11,000 rebel prisoners, who are to be quartered in that place.
The first 400 of over 12,000 rebel prisoners arrived on July 6th.
shape of things to come (by Rebel prisoner David J. Coffman of the 7th Virginia Cavalry)
