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Union Prisoners Taken At Gettysburg

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  • #1

    Union Prisoners Taken At Gettysburg

    Gents-

    While doing some genealogical research for some friends I came across some Civil War ancestors in their lines. One had a soldier in the 7th Wisconsin Infantry (Iron Brigade) and the other in the 26th Wisconsin Infantry. The men were in the 1st Corps and the 11th Corps respectively.

    Anyway both were captured on the first day of the battle and both died while in captivity. Getting to my question.

    Can someone direct me to a good source on how the Union prisoners taken at the Battle of Gettysburg were moved south into prison camps?

    Thanks!
    Louis Zenti

    Pvt. Albert R. Cumpston (Company B, 12th Illinois Vol. Inf.-W.I.A. February 15, 1862)
    Pvt. William H. Cumpston (Company B, 12th Illinois Vol. Inf.-K.I.A. February 15, 1862 Ft. Donelson)
    Pvt. Simon Sams (Co. C, 18th Iowa Inf.-K.I.A. January 8, 1863 Springfield, MO)
    Pvt. Elisha Cox (Co. C, 26th North Carolina Inf.-W.I.A. July 3, 1863 Gettysburg)

    "...in the hottest of the fight, some of the rebs yelled out...them must be Iowa boys". Charles O. Musser 29th Iowa Infantry
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  • #2
    Re: Union Prisoners Taken At Gettysburg

    Check out Gettysburg National Military Park's Blog From the Fields of Gettysburg.

    Supervisory Historian Scott Hartwig has a new three-part article on both US & CS prisoner experiences during and after the battle. See it here: http://npsgnmp.wordpress.com/category/prisoners/
    Respectfully,
    -Kyle M. Stetz
    Liberty Rifles

    "I think the prospect for an active and laborious campaign in Virginia is pretty clear and we will again this spring renew our old occupation and struggle between life and death for six more weary months." Capt. Samuel S. Brooke 47th Va. Infantry-- March 27, 1864

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    • #3
      Re: Union Prisoners Taken At Gettysburg

      There was a book I read over the holidays called, "Retreat from Gettysburg" by Kent Brown, which focuses on the pure logistics of the Pennsylvania Campaign. Brown must have spent years combing through quartermaster reports from the campaign. It is amazing to read about how much supplies the ANV pulled out of Pennsylvania and how they got those supplies, wounded men, and prisoners back to Virginia. The books does focus more on the supplies and wounded, but does contain lots of information on prisoners. Worth checking out.
      Kyle W. Sanders

      Armory Guards
      Pick'in eny Mess

      "America has no north, no south, no east, no west. The sun rises over the hills and sets over the mountains, the compass just points up and down, and we can laugh now at the absurd notion of there being a north and a south. We are one and undivided." -Sam Watkins-1st Tennessee

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      • #4
        Re: Union Prisoners Taken At Gettysburg

        What kyle wrote. Good book with some startling statistics on the amount of loot Lee liberated from Pennsylvania, mostly for worthless IOUs and near-worthless Confederate money.
        David Fox

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        • #5
          Re: Union Prisoners Taken At Gettysburg

          Gents-

          Thanks for the recommendations!

          Just as a point of interest the soldier from the 7th Wisconsin was eventually moved to Andersonville and died very soon after he got there in February/March 1864.

          The soldier from the 26th Wisconsin languished at Belle Island suffering from chronic diarrhea. He was on the verge of being exchanged in August 1864 when his body finally gave out and he died. I was fortunate enough to find a website that contained a large part of correspondence between him and his wife. Very informative and interesting as we come onto the 150th of Gettysburg.

          Here is the link:

          http://www.russscott.com/~rscott/26thwis/adamlett.htm


          Thanks again!
          Louis Zenti

          Pvt. Albert R. Cumpston (Company B, 12th Illinois Vol. Inf.-W.I.A. February 15, 1862)
          Pvt. William H. Cumpston (Company B, 12th Illinois Vol. Inf.-K.I.A. February 15, 1862 Ft. Donelson)
          Pvt. Simon Sams (Co. C, 18th Iowa Inf.-K.I.A. January 8, 1863 Springfield, MO)
          Pvt. Elisha Cox (Co. C, 26th North Carolina Inf.-W.I.A. July 3, 1863 Gettysburg)

          "...in the hottest of the fight, some of the rebs yelled out...them must be Iowa boys". Charles O. Musser 29th Iowa Infantry

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          • #6
            Re: Union Prisoners Taken At Gettysburg

            Here Is letter from Private Patrick Lester co.F 69th Pennsylvania, (Philadelphia Brigade) captured on July third by Garnett's men along the Emmitsburg road during Pickett's charge, to his wife and children describing his treatment after his capture...

            "Parole camp Annapolis August 31 1863

            My Deer wife and Children I take this opportunity of writing those few lines to you hoping to find you and the children in good health. I am in very poor health My Self but I am as well as I can esspect after the treatment I got thuis last two Months since I was taking prisener. We got only two ounses of bread to live on dayly and that the worst fact we had to march 8 days one 18 ounces of flour Deer wife I cant tell you what we suffered I hadebt a halfcent but what they tuck away. I hadn't a Shirt or shoe or stocking on the jenie I was taking but I would not stand it sow long but thinking of you and the children. Deer wife I would not get of sow soon only I was sick. I am the only one that got paroled out of the ridgement Deer wife you herd of all that was killed out of the ridgement our company was taking on the three days fight the Captain and Col was killed before we war taking.

            Wright as soon as you possibly can and send me writing pen and sone or to strong needles deer wife we got new close when we landed heer there are plenty to eat but I cant eait it my stomach is to week deer wife we got mustered in today for two months pay I expect we will be paid in a week or two. Wright as soon as you can direct your letter to Patrick Lester Collage Green Barracks Anapolis Maryland Company F 69th PVI. I will let you know more in my next letter. No more at present but remain your affectionate husband.
            Patrick Lester

            Deer wife send me a little money if you can but but I now tiss hard for you to do but I wassent ever sow bad in want of it."

            He died shortly after of dysentery
            Conor B. Timoney
            LS Mess
            Liberty Rifles

            “Go where you will and tell an old soldier that you are from Philadelphia, and he will shake you by the hand and say, "I remember that good city, and how they fed and treated us, as we passed through during the war, or attended us when in the hospitals. It was the only city that treated us like men.”

            -Joseph C. Ward, Co. I, 106th PV, Philadelphia Brigade

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