Category Archives: Civil War prisons

no relief

Secretary of State William H. Seward was not going to let the British distribute aid to rebels in Union prison camps. From the Richmond Daily Dispatch December 12, 1864: The British Relief Fund for Confederate prisoners — Seward Refuses to … Continue reading

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small world

From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in December 1864: PRISONERS HEARD FROM. – The following is an extract from a letter written by Mr. Lewis DeMott, of this village (now in hospital at Annapolis, Md.) to his wife, under … Continue reading

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“the eager, hungry glare”

A local paper reprinted part of a very long report in the November 26, 1864 issue of The New-York Times that detailed the bad condition of exchanged Union soldiers. From a Seneca County, New York newspaper on December 8, 1864: … Continue reading

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“insurrectionists cried out for mercy”

A Richmond newspaper admired the effectiveness and restraint of the Confederate garrison that thwarted an attempted mass escape by Union prisoners at Salisbury, North Carolina. From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in December 1864: Attempt of the Union Prisoners … Continue reading

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Andersonville North

“in a land of plenty; to die of lingering torture.” From the Richmond Daily Dispatch November 16, 1864: The Treatment of Southern prisoners at the North. We find in the Washington National Intelligencer a private letter relative to the condition … Continue reading

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bombs bursting in air

Oh, to be iron-clad from head to foot. … but we drone on. The Yankees are still shelling Charleston. In this correspondence concerning the night of September 30th, some civilians were wounded, and, while the writer was amused by the … Continue reading

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“callous ears”

So far I have not seen any evidence of a deputation from the Savannah prisoners to President Lincoln; a Democrat paper made political use of the undoubted suffering of prisoners of war. From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in … Continue reading

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utilitarian argument?

From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in September 1864: Terrible Suffering of Federal Prisoners. The public mind is becoming very much disturbed at the terrible condition of the Federal prisoners now in the hands of the enemy. Among the … Continue reading

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sufferings north and south

A Richmond paper reported that sanitary conditions were better at Fort Delaware and the daily death rate was lower. Overall conditions were still not very good and winter would be tough with only one blanket per prisoner. Tobacco would be … Continue reading

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a death at Elmira

From the Richmond Daily Dispatch September 8, 1864: … Mr. W. B. Egerton, a citizen of Petersburg, died in the Federal prison at Elmira, New York, on the 21st ultimo. Elmira started accepting Confederate prisoners on July 6, 1864. By … Continue reading

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