The following letter was written by a Confederate prisoner of war being held at the recently completed prison camp at Elmira, New York. He signed his name J. W. Martin—a common name which makes it rather difficult to pinpoint his identity precisely. I found two soldiers by that name who may who may have written this this letter but I can’t be certain of either. One was named John Wesley Martin (1839-1921) and he belonged to Co. D of the 12th Georgia Infantry. He was taken prisoner at the Battle of Spotsylvania in May 1864 and was eventually placed at Elmira Prison camp after it became operational in July 1864. I cannot confirm when he arrived or left, however.

The second soldier was John W. Martin of Co. I, 18th North Carolina Infantry. He was taken a prisoner at Cold Harbor and was definitely held at Elmira over the winter of 1864-65. He was not released until 14 June 1865. If it was this J. W. Martin, he may have only survived because he received winter clothing from Mrs. Bestor. Whomever wrote the letter was an educated prisoner as the spelling and composition is remarkable for an enlisted man.

Elmira Prison did not open until early July 1864 and they quickly exceeded the design capacity of the camp. Many of the prisoners transported there were taken in the Overland Campaign in the middle of summer which meant they arrived with little extra clothing to protect themselves from the harsh Northern climate. Severe weather, poor drainage near the Chemung River, malnutrition, and disease led to nearly 3,000 deaths in its year of operation. Those confined there called it “Hellmira.”

Martin wrote the letter to Jane Eliza (Brown) Bestor (1820-1885), the wife of John Rollin Bestor, Sr. (1813-1867). This Baltimore couple had twin sons who served in the Maryland Guard that became Co. B, 21st Virginia Infantry. Eliza seems to have corresponded with numerous Confederate officers and soldiers seeking information about her sons. It’s possible that Martin heard of Mrs. Bestor’s benevolence though he was a total stranger. Whether she assisted all who wrote her is unknown. The Bestor brothers’ letters have been transcribed and may be found at 1861-65: The Bestor Brothers of Baltimore.

T R A N S C R I P T I O N

Prison Camp, Elmira, New York
September 23rd 1864

Mr. J. E. Bestor

I very much regret the necessity of writing you, as at present, but the prospects of spending a winter in the “frozen North” & the hope that comfort may be promoted by a small but much to be appreciated donation from you, I write.

To seemingly impose on kindness is certainly unpleasant & nothing but the direst necessity could induce me to do so. I am sure that should you receive no other compensation, you will at least be paid to as great a degree as my poor capacity will allow in gratitude. Please send me a comfortable suit of winter clothing, sizes to fit a full grown man, & you will secure the grateful remembrance of one seemingly born to misfortune.

Hoping to hear from you soon, I subscribe myself, with very much respect, — J. W. Martin

Barracks No. 3 Ward 41, Elmira, N. Y.