Posted on Jan 24, 2018
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On this day in 1865, the Confederate Congress agrees to continue prisoner exchanges, opening a process that had operated only sporadically for three years.
In the first year of the Civil War, prisoner exchanges were conducted primarily between field generals on an ad hoc basis. The Union was reluctant to enter any formal agreements, fearing that it would legitimize the Confederate government. But the issue became more important as the campaigns escalated in 1862. In July 1862, Union General John Dix and Confederate General Daniel H. Hill reached an agreement inwhich each soldier was assigned a value according to rank. For example, one privatewas worth another private; corporals and sergeants were worth two privates; andlieutenants were worth three privates. A commanding general was worth 60 privates. Under this system, thousands of soldiers were exchanged rather than languishing in prisons like those in Andersonville, Georgia, or Elmira, New York.
The system was really a gentlemen’s agreement, relying on the trust of each side.It broke down in 1862 when Confederates refused to exchange black Union soldiers. From 1862 to 1865, prisoner exchanges were rare. When they did happen, it was usually because two local commanders came to a workable agreement. The result of the breakdown was the swelling of prisoner-of-war camps in both the North and South. The most notorious of all the camps was Andersonville, where one-third of the approximately 46,000 Union troops incarcerated died of disease, exposure, or starvation.
Though the prisoner exchanges resumed in January 1865, the end of the war was so close that it did not make much difference.
In the first year of the Civil War, prisoner exchanges were conducted primarily between field generals on an ad hoc basis. The Union was reluctant to enter any formal agreements, fearing that it would legitimize the Confederate government. But the issue became more important as the campaigns escalated in 1862. In July 1862, Union General John Dix and Confederate General Daniel H. Hill reached an agreement inwhich each soldier was assigned a value according to rank. For example, one privatewas worth another private; corporals and sergeants were worth two privates; andlieutenants were worth three privates. A commanding general was worth 60 privates. Under this system, thousands of soldiers were exchanged rather than languishing in prisons like those in Andersonville, Georgia, or Elmira, New York.
The system was really a gentlemen’s agreement, relying on the trust of each side.It broke down in 1862 when Confederates refused to exchange black Union soldiers. From 1862 to 1865, prisoner exchanges were rare. When they did happen, it was usually because two local commanders came to a workable agreement. The result of the breakdown was the swelling of prisoner-of-war camps in both the North and South. The most notorious of all the camps was Andersonville, where one-third of the approximately 46,000 Union troops incarcerated died of disease, exposure, or starvation.
Though the prisoner exchanges resumed in January 1865, the end of the war was so close that it did not make much difference.
Confederate Congress to resume prisoner exchanges - Jan 24, 1865 - HISTORY.com
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Posted 7 y ago
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Thanks TSgt Joe C. for letting us know that on January 24, 1865 the Confederate Congress agreed to continue prisoner exchanges, opening a process that had operated only sporadically for three years.
The Confederacy was short of manpower which the Federal side had a distinct advantage. Therefore the Federal side was less inclined to exchange prisoners.
The southern POW system was plagued like the rest of the south with lack of food and staples including medicine which resulted in one-third of the approximately 46,000 Union troops incarcerated died of disease, exposure, or starvation dining at Andersonville, Georgia.
Images: 1864 Andersonville-civil-war-prison-life; Andersonville Prison Diagram; 1864-02 Andersonville prison camp.jpg
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. LTC Wayne Brandon LTC Bill Koski Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Capt Seid Waddell Capt Tom Brown Maj Marty Hogan MSG Andrew White SFC William Farrell SSgt Robert Marx PO1 William "Chip" Nagel SPC Margaret Higgins MSgt Jason McClish AN Christopher Crayne SPC Tom DeSmet SGT Charles H. Hawes SGT (Join to see)
The Confederacy was short of manpower which the Federal side had a distinct advantage. Therefore the Federal side was less inclined to exchange prisoners.
The southern POW system was plagued like the rest of the south with lack of food and staples including medicine which resulted in one-third of the approximately 46,000 Union troops incarcerated died of disease, exposure, or starvation dining at Andersonville, Georgia.
Images: 1864 Andersonville-civil-war-prison-life; Andersonville Prison Diagram; 1864-02 Andersonville prison camp.jpg
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. LTC Wayne Brandon LTC Bill Koski Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Capt Seid Waddell Capt Tom Brown Maj Marty Hogan MSG Andrew White SFC William Farrell SSgt Robert Marx PO1 William "Chip" Nagel SPC Margaret Higgins MSgt Jason McClish AN Christopher Crayne SPC Tom DeSmet SGT Charles H. Hawes SGT (Join to see)
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