Category Archives: Civil War prisons

swarming with yankees

Richmond was just about overflowing with Yankee prisoners. Some were being disposed to Danville and Lynchburg. From the Richmond Daily Dispatch November 14, 1863: The prisoners of War in Richmond. The morning report of the Libby prison yesterday shows the … Continue reading

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Civil War prisons, Confederate States of America, Southern Society | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

just a blip?

150 years ago this week Gothamites could read about the Union prison at Fort Delaware. One of correspondent “C.B.”‘s first impressions was of the stench of “ten thousand idle and dirty men.” The southern prisoners are seen as mostly listless, … Continue reading

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Civil War prisons, Military Matters | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

well corked canteens

150 years ago today folks in Richmond could read about the ingenuity and daring of some Confederate prisoners of war who escaped from Fort Delaware and/or the recently built barracks on Pea Patch Island. From the Richmond Daily Dispatch August … Continue reading

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Civil War prisons, Confederate States of America, Military Matters, Southern Society | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

one not enough?

The following stereograph of Richmond’s Libby Prison was taken 150 years ago today: The Library of Congress also shows the back of the card with its statement of authenticity: You can see a photograph of Libby’s commandant, Thomas P. Turner … Continue reading

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Civil War prisons, Confederate States of America, Southern Society, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Yankee Go Home

Paroled Union soldiers roaming the streets, especially offensive to Confederate soldiers’ loved ones From the Richmond Daily Dispatch January 17, 1863: Are the Yankees in possession of Montgomery? –The Montgomery Advertiser says: The question was quite seriously mooted yesterday and … Continue reading

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Civil War prisons, Confederate States of America, Military Matters | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The New Wide-Awakes?

During the 1860 election campaign the Wide Awakes “was a paramilitary campaign organization affiliated with the Republican Party”. The following editorial is concerned that the Republican-led federal government is wide awake to punishing dissenting opinion. From the Richmond Daily Dispatch … Continue reading

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Civil War prisons, Lincoln Administration, Northern Society | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Belle & the Boys Released

The Dix–Hill Cartel of July 22, 1862 regulated the exchange of Union and Confederate prisoners. Aiken’s Landing on the James River became a major exchange location. The following letter seems to describe the the Dix-Hill cartel at work. Confederate spy … Continue reading

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Month, Civil War prisons, Military Matters | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Stickin’ Surgeon?

From A Seneca Falls, New York newspaper in July, 1862: Dr S.R. Wells a Prisoner Intelligence has been received at Waterloo, from Washington, stating that Dr. SAMUEL R. WELLES, of that place, is a prisoner in the Confederate ranks. The … Continue reading

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Civil War prisons, Military Matters, Peninsula campaign 1862 | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Letter from a “bagged rebel”

Fort Warren at Boston Harbor “had a reputation for humane treatment of its detainees.” Given the circumstances, I’d say that newspapers and whiskey from your home state (especially if that state is Kentucky) would go on the humane side of … Continue reading

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Civil War prisons, Military Matters | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment