Category Archives: Exchanged POWs

5th Florida Infantry, Exchanged POWs, Point Lookout Prison Camp, The Immortal 600

1864: William J. Bailey, Jr. to Jane Eliza Bestor

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The following Prisoner of War letters were written by Capt. William J. Bailey, Jr. of Leon county, Florida. Early in the war he commanded the Aucilla Guards at St. Marks but when the 5th Florida was organized early in 1862, he joined that regiment as Captain of Co. G. Bailey led his company through some of the most brutal battles of the war—2nd Manassas, Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and was with his regiment in Lang’s Brigade at Gettysburg where he was wounded and taken prisoner in Longstreet’s sunset attack on the Union Left July 2, 1863. He spent the latter half of 1863 and most of 1864 imprisoned at Fort Delaware. History records his having been selected on 20 August 1864 as one of the “Immortal 600” Confederate officers that were used as human shields on Morris Island during the siege of Charleston. Bailey was reported to have been bounced between several prisons including Fort McHenry (Baltimore), Johnson’s Island, Point Lookout, and Fort Delaware.

In November, 1864, some 200 of the 600 were removed to a prison on Hilton Head Island where they experienced conditions similar to those they did on Morris Island. Prisoners were driven to “catching and eating dogs, cats and rats,” according to Lt. Peter B. Akers. Here, Bailey’s health became so broken by wounds and confinement that he wrote a poignant letter to the Union authorities dated December 25, 1864. Realizing that he would die in prison if not exchanged soon, he sought a parole of 60 days to return home and effect an exchange. For this special consideration, William gave his word of honor to distribute whatever the Union authorities wished (within reason) to the Federal prisoners in the South. The request was denied and Capt. Bailey died of inflammation of the lungs on March 5, 1865. He left a wife—Maria Bolling (Baker) Bailey (1836-1885), and four children born between 1855 and 1861. [Source: The Immortal 600 at Gettysburg.]

Bailey wrote the letters 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. She seems to have corresponded with numerous Confederate officers seeking information about her sons. The Bestor brothers letters have been transcribed and may be found at 1861-65: The Bestor Brothers of Baltimore.

Confederate prisoners at Point Lookout, Maryland, were quartered in tents rather than barracks, and guarded by Black troops in 1864. These tents were in poor condition and often lacked stoves to keep them adequately heated during the winter. When combined with the lack of blankets and clothing, prisoners experienced widespread suffering from the cold. [Source: Inside a Civil War Prison Camp: Sketches from Point Lookout.]

Letter 1

Pt. Lookout, Maryland
March 18th, 1864

Mrs. Bestor,

Robert Watkins Adams, Florida Memory

Madame. Yours of the 16th inst. to Lt. [R. W.] Adams 1 has been received & finding it from you, I took the liberty of reading it & determined to write you. Lt. A. left here on the 3rd inst. for City Pt. & I have rec’d a note from him at that place in which he said that he expected to leave for Richmond every moment. I presume in this he is enjoying all the sweets of a dear home surrounded by all the loved ones most dear to him. He was particularly fortunate in being one of the chosen few. I have heard him speak so often & so kindly of you that I feel that I am acquainted with you & therefore taken the liberty of answering your letter. I am much obliged to you for the kind sympathy expressed for me. Should I reach Richmond soon, will do myself the pleasure of writing to your sons. The exchange is still going on in an informal way. 50 officers & 600 men left yesterday. The members of Lt. A.’s old mess join me in kind regards.

Respectfully, — Wm. Bailey, Capt. 5th Fla. Regmt.

1 The Lt. Adams spoken of in this letter was Lieut. Robert Watkins Adams (1839-1886) of the 5th Florida Regiment. We know this because of another letter she wrote. There were a number of officers transferred to Point Lookout, Maryland, and officially exchanged on 6 March 1864. He had been appointed 3rd Lieutenant in October (to date from August) and was promoted to First Lieutenant on 3 March 1863. He was captured again, at Gettysburg, PA on 1 July and was a prisoner on Johnson’s Island, near Sandusky, OH until he was exchanged on 3 March 1864. He may have been promoted to Captain while a prisoner, after Captain Frink was killed at Gettysburg. He went on sick furlough on 11 June, was in a hospital in Lake City, FL, and resigned his commission on 29 December 1864. See second letter below.

Letter 2

Point Lookout, Maryland
April 10th, 1864

My dear friend,

Yours of the 1st inst. with box did not reach me until yesterday & I hasten to acknowledge the receipt and thank you for your kind consideration in ministering to my wants. The books not only will drive off dull care & break the dull monotony of prison life, but will furnish much useful information. With these & the fair prospect of an “exchange” soon, I think we will be able to pass the time rather pleasantly compared with the manner of life for the past nine long weary months. Many thanks to you also for delightful eatables, which came like a shower of manna to the “children of Israel.” We are getting on more comfortably now. The weather more pleasant & the prospect of rejoining our friends at home more cheering now than ever. On my return South, will write to Mr. Tuller. Anything else that I can do for you will be most cheerfully done. With considerations of the highest respect, I am your friend, — Wm. Bailey

Exchanged POWs, Ohio Homefront

1863: Henry Six to Hospital Steward

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The following letter was written by Henry Six (b. 1808), a 55 year-old farmer in Waterloo township, Athens county, Ohio. Henry and his wife Rachel Dowler (b. 1812) had at least four children, one of them being Theron Harvey Six (1843-1863) who enlisted on 23 December 1861 to serve in Co. H, 75th Ohio Volunteer Infantry (OVI). He was taken prisoner on 2 July 1863 at Gettysburg and he died at General Hospital No. 21 in Richmond, Virginia, on 1 December 1863 suffering from chronic dysentery. He was buried in the Richmond National Cemetery.

Henry wrote the letter to the Annapolis hospital that treated paroled soldiers released from Confederate prisons hoping that they might have received his son, not knowing that he was yet barely hanging onto life in a Richmond hospital.

Transcription

Waterloo Township, Athens county, [Ohio]
November 28th 1863

Hospital Steward,

Dear sir, I have a son named Harper Six belonging to the 75th Regt., Company H, OVI, who was taken prisoner on the 2nd day of July at Gettysburg, Pa., and sent to Richmond, Va., to Belle Island, and learning that two squads has been sent from Richmond to Annapolis and wishing to hear from him, as I understand that my son was sick, he may be in hospital at parole camp in Annapolis.

[If] you will have the goodness, dear sir, to inform me whether any such man has been in your hospital and [if] so, whether he is living or dead by answering immediately, you will confer a great favor on a much afflicted family.

I remain yours respectfully, — Henry Six

P. S. Direct your letter to me, Marshfield, Athens county, Ohio

12th Iowa Infantry, Benton Barracks, Exchanged POWs

1863: George Erwin Comstock to George Throop

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George Erwin Comstock

The following letter was written by George Erwin Comstock (1839-1911), the son of Isaac W. Comstock (1808-1883) and Catherine W. Erwin (1809-1852) of Fayette county, Iowa. Erwin enlisted as a private in Co. C, 12th Iowa Infantry on 14 September 1861 and was promoted to a corporal on 8 December 1862. Erwin was with his regiment at Shiloh where they fought valiantly the first day, holding back the enemy until Buell’s army arrived. Erwin was among the number taken prisoner on that day while the few remaining members of the 12th were assigned to the “Union Brigade.”

Erwin’s letter was datelined in late February 1863 at Benton Barracks in St. Louis after they had been exchanged and were ready to be reorganized. We learn from the letter that many of the members took french leave to make visits home while they were awaiting exchange.

After the war, Erwin became a butcher and settled in Westfield.

Erwin wrote his letter to his friend, Sgt. George Throop (later Lieutenant), with the Chicago Mercantile Battery. See Throop-Vaughan family papers, 1838-1928.

See also:
Owen Weed Nims, Co. I, 12th Iowa (1 Letter)
Edward H. Wells, Co. I, 12th Iowa (1 Letter)

To read more: A Perfect Picture of Hell: Eyewitness Accounts by the Civil War Prisoners from the 12th Iowa by High H. Genoways and Ted Genoways, 1998.

A large albumen image of members of Company C 12th Iowa Infantry taken at Benton Barracks on January 8, 1863. These soldiers were all captured in the Hornet’s Nest on April 6, 1862, and this image was taken shortly after their parole.
The following excerpt is found on page 161 of “The University Recruits Company C 12th Iowa Infantry U.S.A 1861-1866” by Charles B. Clark and Roger B. Bowen.
“Captain Warner struck a deal with a photographer in St. Louis by which a member of Company C could have a dozen photographs taken for $3.00, a twenty-five percent reduction. Warner would keep a photograph of each man, send a second to Miss Elizabeth Sorin at Upper Iowa University, with ten going to the Company member. This became a big project, lasting until departure from St. Louis in April. Numerous trips had to be taken into the City for sittings, for picking up the photographs, mailing some, trading others. Woods (Philo Woods) sent a couple of photographs home, mailed one to sister Samantha, traded another to Henry Grannis, old Upper Iowa University chum and color bearer for Company C and the 12th Iowa. A group picture of Company C was also taken and appears on the next page.”

Image from the collection of Michael Huston.

Transcription

Addressed to George Throop, Chicago Mercantile Battery, Gen. Sherman’s Army of Mississippi, Gen. A. J. Smith’s Division
Capt. C. G. Cooley

Benton Barracks
St. Louis, Missouri
February 25th 1863

Dear Friend George,

Perhaps ere this you have thought that I was a going to keep silent, but not so. But to begin with, I ask your pardon for not writing as I agreed to. Since I last saw you, I have ben home [and] had a grand time, I assure you. I remained at St. Louis about a month after leaving Chicago last fall before I received pay after which I took a french furlough, that being the only way as Gen. Halleck had issued an order that no furloughs should be given to any except wounded soldiers. This cut us out and Benton Barracks, I assure you, is any place but a good one for soldiers in our condition—the ague handing around some (ailing me) other thing and some another, but all in a poor condition. Notwithstanding, it was a direct violation of the military law yet they instantly saw the need of our going somewhere to recruit and thought that home would be as good a place as any. But of course did not say it out loud, but we were not so dull of apprehension but what we were bold enough to venture. Consequently, off we went.

I started in about two hours after I got my pay. One principal difficulty was to get out of the Barracks which was pretty well guarded at the gates and there being so many going at a time we were afraid it would cause suspicion. That was one reason I hurried off so. I made out to get out all night but as you well know by this time, it wants a soldier that has seen a little service. At any rate, I only had five sentinels to pass at one gate all within 3 rods of each other, but on I went with[out] any particular trouble.

In going home, I did not go by the way of Chicago, consequently did not see your folks. We remained at home 4 weeks when we received the official orders that we were exchanged and to report at Benton Barracks by the 1st of January which we did with a hearty good will—every man that was able. Some of our company were left at home because they were not able to come. Considerable many have been discharged and we are badly broken up. Out of the 105 men that first went in to camp with all in the full bloom of youth have dwindled away to a small squad. There are twenty-five of us here and 16, I believe that are in the Union Brigade. Some of these are soon to be discharged. Although we made out to get out of the Confederacy alive, yet many never will get over it. As far as I am concerned, I am all right now and ready for another siege at any command.

I found Father’s folks all well and I need not say they were glad to see me. I took them somewhat unawares. [My brother] Frank has grown like a weed since I first left home. He is about to my shoulders. He wanted to come back with me but I prevailed upon him to stay. The army is no place for a boy at his age (too many of them there now).

The 17th I wrote to Martha for your address and yesterday I received an answer giving your address, also a history of your travels, &c. as she last heard. You were then before Vicksburg. I don’t understand what this means but I presume the ones that have the doing with it do. I expect that are waiting for the 12th to come and make a charge. Well, “so be it.” I would not be much surprised if we were there as soon as we get organized. It would be kind of strange if it should be us to support your battery some time. I hope we may. Stranger things that that has happened.

I tell you what one thing we have done already. We (a detachment from our regiment of 120 all told) had the exquisite pleasure (if so you call it) of escorting those rebels that you helped capture at Arkansas Post, or rather a part of them, the commissioned officers some, over 300 in number, Gen. [Thomas] Churchill and staff, &c. a gas set (if you don’t care what you say). We took them to Columbus, Ohio, and there they will be kept until Jeff releases those officers of ours at Richmond which he keeps in confinement. “Woe to him,” if he don’t release them. It surely is not the movements of a wise head.

There is a Bill before the House with regard to mounting the fragments of wester regiments (infantry_. I expect it will pass without a doubt. If so, we may possibly come in, in that time.

Gen. Tuttle (formerly Colonel of the 2nd Iowa) came here yesterday to try and get the 8th, 12th, and 14th Iowa to go immediately to the field under him. How he will succeed, I can’t say.

I was glad to learn that your health had been good and that you were in fine spirits, the latter of which is a blessing to a soldier.

I really would give considerable if I could meet you in the field. A gay time we would have, I dare say. I often think of what your Uncle John use to say, “Boys will be boys,” &c. Although we have arrived to the years of manhood, yet I am thinking the boy would stay itself as of old. Martha says the folks are all well as usual. Well, George, I must close for the present with the promise that I will be prompt after this as I have your address. My kindest regards to your messmates. Success to you in all your exertions in the way of disposing of rebels, and all other ways. Please excuse this scribbled up letter and remember me as a friend that wishes you well. Hoping you will write soon, I remain yours, truly, — Erwin Comstock