After Fort Fisher, Prisoners-- Part 2: To Elmira

All seriously wounded Confederates were sent to Union Army hospitals at Point Lookout in Maryland, Fort Monroe Prison in Virginia, and Fort Delaware in Delaware.

The journey of the Fort Fisher prisoners to Elmira began with boarding them on steamers bound for New York Harbor at the port of Jersey City, New Jersey, across from New York City.  Sadly for the Confederates, when they were captured, they were without their winter clothing and blankets due to the fact that they had not fought wearing those clothes and due to the fact that their barracks had been burned during the naval bombardment.  And, it did not get warmer as they went north.

After arriving at Jersey City, they were put on Erie Rail Road prison trains for a 273 mile trip to Elmira, New York.  There were two arrivals of Fort Fisher prisoners.  The first arrival came on January 30, 1865, 15 days after the fort fell and consisted of 501 men.

The second arrival was on February 1, 1865, and had 653 men.  A total of 1,154 Fort Fisher prisoners went to Elmira Prison.

--Old B-Runner

After Fort Fisher: Prisoners

From the North Carolina Civil War and Reconstruction History Center:  "From Fort Fisher to Elmira" byccwinslow394, submitted by Tom Fagart.

When Fort Fisher fell, the exact number of  Confederates captured is not known, but it is known that the majority of them, 1,154 men, were sent to Elmira Prison in New York.

Other Union prisons also received those captured at Fort Fisher:

639 to Point Lookout Prison, Maryland

97 to Fort Columbus Prison in New York Harbor  (Officers)

61 to Fort Delaware Prison in Delaware

22 to Fort Morgan Prison in Virginia  (I am unable to find this place.)

The Union Navy ships used to transport the prisoners north were the California, DeMolay, General Lyon and North Point.  (I could only find additional information on these ships on the tragedy of the General Lyon.)

--Old B-Runner

April 17, 1865: Lincoln's Assassin Reported To Be in Vicinity of Point Lookout

APRIL 17TH, 1865:  Acting Master J.H. Eldridge, USS Delaware, reported that information had been received that the murderer of the President was in the vicinity of Point Lookout, Maryland.

Secretary Welles promptly ordered the Commanding Officer of Naval Force, Hampton Roads, to send all available vessels to assist in the blockade of the eastern shore of Virginia and Maryland from Point Lookout to Baltimore.

--Old B-Runner

Booth Reported in Vicinity of Point Lookout, Maryland

APRIL 17TH, 1865:  Acting Master J.H. Eldridge, USS Delaware, reported that information had been received that the murderer of the President was in the vicinity of Point Lookout, Maryland.

Secretary Welles promptly ordered the Commanding Officer of Naval Force, Hampton Roads, to send all available vessels to assist in the blockade of the eastern shore of Virginia and Maryland from Point Lookout to Baltimore.

--Old B-Runner

Newtons in Confederate Naval Service

Besides Charles A. Newton from the last post, I also found these men as serving in the Navy.

GEORGE NEWTON:  Surgeon Steward, CSS Morgan 1862-1864.

JAS. M. NEWTON:  Quartermaster General CSS Arctic, 1862-1864.  This ship was at the Wilmington, N.C. Station.

VIRGINIUS NEWTON:  Midshipman, CSS Beaufort 1861-1862.

W.T. NEWTON:  CSMC.  Held at Point Lookout Prison in Maryland.

I found someone at the GenForum looking for information on these men.  They said that Charles A. Newton was an Acting Master; George Newton was a sailmaker in Mobile, Alabama 1863-1865 and Virginius Newton was a midshipman 1861-1865.

--Old B-R'er

Confederate Plan to Seize Point Lookout-- Part 2

Rumors of this daring plan reached Lt. Stuyvesant of the USS Minnesota, on July 18 and he warned the Navy department and Rear Admiral Lee that Wood was reported to have left Richmond with 800 volunteers on July 7-8.  The projected expedition caused considerable excitement among Union authorities, President Davis, on 10 July, had already advised against it.

Wood reported that he was ready to run the blockade out of Wilmington on 9 July, but the Confederate President warned him: "The object and destination of the expedition have somehow become so generally known that I fear your operation will meet unexpected obstacles."

The expedition was abandoned, but did show the extreme measures the South contemplated as the war turned against them.

--Old B-R'er

Confederates Plan to Seize Prison Camp at Point Lookout, Maryland-- Part 1

JULY 9TH, 1864: (150 Years Ago) Major John Tyler, CSA, Asst. Adjutant General, wrote Major General Sterling Price regarding a proposed attack on Point Lookout, Md., to release Confederate prisoners held there:  The plan is that he [Lt. Gen. Jubal Early] shall seize Baltimore and hold it with his infantry while his cavalry proceeds to Point Lookout to liberate our prisoners there concentrated to the extent of nearly 30,000.

"In the meantime Captain [John Taylor] Wood, of the Navy, proceeds from Wilmington [NC] with 5 gunboats and 20,000 stand of arms for the same point by water.  If successful in thus liberating and arming our imprisoned soldiers, Washington will be assaulted and no doubt carried.  This I regard as decidedly the most brilliant idea of the war."

Big Plans, Longshot for Success Though.  --Old B-Runner