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James mentions the following U. S. Army personnel in his diary:

bulletMajor Henry Ward Camp
bulletCaptain Edward E. Chase
bulletLieutenant Eli Holden
bulletCaptain Ralph Omestead Ives
bulletCaptain Charles S. Kendall
bulletPrivate John F. Keyser
bulletCaptain Julius B. Litchfield
bulletCaptain Benjamin C. G. Reed
bulletSergeant Godfrey Sparks
bulletChaplain Henry Clay Trumbull

To meet James' prison mates from other areas, click one of the categories below:

 

Major Henry Ward Camp
Biographical Sketch
Henry Ward Camp: Major, United States Army, 10th Regiment, Connecticut Volunteer Infantry.  He was born February 4, 1837, in Hartford, Connecticut, the son of Reverend Henry B. Camp and Cornelia L. Baldwin.  He was mustered into service as a 2nd Lieutenant on November 27, 1861; promoted to 1st Lieutenant on January 1, 1862,  Adjutant on August 5, 1862, and Major September 24, 1864.

He was captured on July 19, 1863, near Morris Island, South Carolina and was confined to Richland Jail, Columbia, South Carolina, and paroled April 30, 1864.  After returning to the military service, he was killed on October 13, 1864, at Darbytown Road, outside Richmond, Virginia. 

A biography of Major Camp, entitled The Knightly Soldier,  was  written by Chaplain H. Clay Trumbull and published in Boston in 1865.

 

 

"In the field before Richmond, Virginia 
October 13, 1864

Major Camp was killed: he fell among the foremost of his comrades and within a few yards of the enemy's line. Our cause cannot boast of a nobler martyr than Henry W. Camp.  His name will be recorded with those of Ellsworth and Winthrop, youthful heroes who have given their lives for their country.  

H. M. Plaisted
Colonel, 11th Maine Volunteers"

Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Vol.XLII (2), p. 733

Excerpts from James' Diary

 

"I wrote to my wife Sept 22nd & every fortnight thereafter while in Columbia & upon leaving gave a written order to Adjutant Henry W. Camp of the Conn. 10th to receive and retain all letters, packages, &c, which might be received after I left, which were addressed to me." (written in Richmond during November 1863 prior to being transferred to Salisbury Prison)
From summary diary entry written prior to February 27, 1864

"Forgot to mention under date of yesterday that I recd. a letter from Adjutant Camp, who is a prisoner of war in Richland Jail Columbia S.C. where we were last fall." (March 15, 1864)

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Captain Edward E. Chase

Biographical Sketch

Edward E. Chase: Captain, United States Army.  Chase enlisted January 7, 1862 as a 2nd Lieutenant, was commissioned into H Company First Rhode Island Cavalry on February 11, 1862,  promoted to First Lieutenant on August 4, 1862, and to Captain on February 14, 1863. He was captured on June 17, 1863, at Centerville, Virginia, and confined to Libby Prison Richmond on June 20, 1863. He and two other officers and fifteen sailors, including Frederic James, were designated as "hostages" in retaliation for supposed treatment of Confederate officers and fifteen enlisted seamen.  All eighteen prisoners were sent to the military prison at Salisbury, North Carolina, on December 29, 1863.  Chase left Salisbury on April 14, 1864, to be exchanged. He was discharged on March 1, 1865.

In our research, we found one interesting document related to Captain Chase:

Office-Commissioner for Exchange
Fort Monroe, Va. - February 15, 1864

Hon. Robert Ould, Agent for Exchange, Richmond, Va.

Sir: It has been reported to me that Captain Edward E. Chase, First Rhode Island Cavalry, who was captured in Virginia about eight months since and until lately confined in Libby Prison, has been sent to Salisbury, North Carolina and sentenced to hard labor in the penitentiary at that place, in retaliation (it is said) for the treatment of three confederate officers in Missouri.  I have, therefore, two requests that you will at once inform me if such is the case; and if it should prove true, that you will take the necessary steps to have the officer relieved of such indignities, as there no Confederate prisoners in our hands subject to similar treatment.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Benjamin F. Butler, 
Major-General and Commissioner for Exchange

Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series II, Vol. VI, p. 945

 

Excerpt from James' Diary

"At 5 o'clock the next morning we started for Salisbury, N.C., Capts. Kendall, Chase & Litchfield of the Army being sent with us. Arrived at Salisbury on the 30th." (December 30, 1863)

"Sent a letter to Capt. Bartlett [Victor Bartlett's father] by Capt. Chase, who left for Richmond at 5 p.m. & expects to be exchanged." (April 14, 1864)

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Lieutenant Eli Holden

Biographical Sketch

Eli Holden: a resident of Barre, VT; enlisted as a Sergeant September 17, 1861,in the 1st Vermont Cavalry; promoted to 2nd Lieutenant on November 18, 1861; 1st Lieutenant October 30, 1862; wounded April 1, 1863; captured September 26, 1863; confined to Salisbury Prison and transferred to Macon, GA, on May 31, 1864, at the same time that Frederic Augustus James was sent to Andersonville.  Holden was paroled on March 1, 1865.

Excerpts from James' Diary

"The three officers who did not escape from the train were left at Macon, which is about 60 miles from this camp on the way to Augusta by R.R.  They were Capt Kendall of the Mass 1st, Lieut Holden of the 9th Vermont, & Capt. Ives of R.I." (May 31, 1864)

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Captain Ralph Omestead Ives

Biographical Sketch

Ralph Omestead Ives: born in New York City, a 22-year old attorney and resident of Great Barrington, MA;  Captain, United States Army, Company A, 10th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry; was commissioned on June 21, 1861; captured at Warrenton, Virginia, on September 3, 1863, and was confined to Salisbury Military Prison, North Carolina, on September 15, 1863.  He was transferred to Macon, Georgia, on May 31, 1864, the day before James entered Andersonville.  Ives was mustered out on September 19, 1864. After the war he lived in California.

In our research on Captain Ives, we came across military correspondence from General Butler to the Confederate Agent in charge of exchange at Richmond, Virginia:

Office - Commission of Exchange
Fort Monroe, Va. - February 12, 1864

Hon. Robert Ould, Agent for Exchange, Richmond, Va.

Sir:
Will your authorities make a special exchange of Captain Ralph Omestead Ives, Tenth Massachusetts Regiment, captured at Warrenton, Va. , September 3, 1863, and now a prisoner at Salisbury, N.C. ?  This government is willing to give any Confederate officer of equal rank in exchange for Captain Ives.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, etc.,

Benjamin F. Butler, 
Major-General and Commissioner for Exchange

Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series II, Vol.VI, p. 945

 

Hdqrs. Dept.of Virginia and North Carolina
Office Commissioner of Exchange
Fort Monroe, VA., April 13, 1864

Hon. Robert Ould, Agent for Exchange, Richmond, VA:

Sir: Will you please inform me in what manner Capt. Ralph O. Ives, Tenth Massachusetts Volunteers, is held a prisoner by your authorities?
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

BENJ. F. BUTLER, 
Major-General and Commissioner for Exchange

Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series II, Vol.VII, p. 42

Excerpts from James' Diary

"I forgot to mention that on Monday night which was misty & dark, Capts Reed & Ives  with 26 "yankee deserters" attempted to leave but were stumbled upon by some of the guard,  & the Capts. & 6 of the men caught while of the balance retreated back to their quarters." (March 1, 1864)

"Capts Reed & Ives were today released from their dungeon & are now held as prisoners of war, by an order from Richmond." (March 5, 1864)

"The three officers who did not escape from the train were left at Macon, which is about 60 miles from this camp on the way to Augusta by R.R.  They were Capt Kendall of the Mass 1st, Lieut Holden of the 9th Vermont, & Capt. Ives of R.I." (May 31, 1864)

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Captain Charles S. Kendall

Biographical Sketch

Charles S. Kendall: Captain, United States Army, Company B, 1st Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. He was born in 1833 and lived in East Boston, and knew Frederic Augustus James before they both entered military service.  Kendall was mustered into service and commissioned Second Lieutenant on May 23, 1861.  He was commissioned First Lieutenant on August 26, 1861, and Captain on July 24, 1862.

He was taken prisoner at Emmitsburg, Maryland, by Stuart's Cavalry during the Confederates' retreat from Gettysburg on July 5, 1863.  He was confined to Libby Prison Richmond on July 10, 1863, and later sent to Salisbury, North Carolina, as a "hostage" with James on December 29, 1863.    

 

At the time James was being transferred to Andersonville (May 28, 1864) Kendall was ordered to the Officers' Prison at Macon, Georgia.

Kendall was mustered out of service and honorably discharged on January 1, 1865.

In our research, we found the following Confederate document related to this officer:

Headquarters, Department of Henrico
Richmond, December 22, 1863

Hon. James A. Seddon, Secretary of War:

Sir: In obedience to instructions, I have the honor to report that the following officers have been selected from among the Federal prisoners confined here "to undergo hard labor during the war in the penitentiary at Salisbury, N.C., for a like number of our officers confined in the penitentiary at Alton, Ill. ", and that they will be immediately sent to Salisbury, to wit: 

Edward E. Chase, Captain, First Rhode Island;
Julius B. Litchfield, Captain, Fourth Maine;
Charles S. Kendall, Captain, First Massachusetts

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

John H. Winder, Brigadier-General

 

Official Records of Union and Confederate Armies, Series II, Vol. VI, p. 745

 

Excerpts from James' Diary

"At 5 o'clock the next morning we started for Salisbury, N.C., Capts. Kendall, Chase & Litchfield of the army being sent with us.  Arrived at Salisbury on the 30th." (December 30, 1863)

"When we came to this place [Salisbury] we (18 of us) [including Capt.Kendall] had the upper floor to ourselves but as " fresh fish" have been sent here from time to time, we have been obliged to give up some of our surplus room to the luckless newcomers." (February 20, 1864)

"Heard from home by Capt. K.'s [Kendall] letter.  All are well.  [Kendall and James were both residents of East Boston, Massachusetts.]" (April 30, 1864)

"The three officers who did not escape from the train were left at Macon... They were Capt Kendall of the Mass 1st, Lieut Holden of the 9th Vermont, & Capt Ives of R.I." (May 31, 1864) 

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Private John F. Keyser
Biographical Sketch

John F. Keyser: United States Army. Resident of Morris Crossroads in Fayette County, Pennsylvania.  Enlisted as a Private on June 10, 1862, in Company I, 115th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry.

He was confined to the military prison at Salisbury, North Carolina. On June 22, 1864, he transferred to Company D, 110th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry  He was discharged in May 1865 at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.  Keyser died of heart disease in a national military hospital in Washington, D.C., date unknown.

Excerpt from James' Diary

"We had a headboard suitably inscribed for Bartlett's grave this afternoon.  It was done by John F. Keyser of Morris X Roads, Fayette Co. Pa., who kindly volunteered, & who also conducted the services at the grave. The headboard reads thus - 

V. A. Bartlett
of
U.S. Steamer 
"Housatonic".
Died March 25 1864
Aged 22 years

We also secured a zinc plate to the lid of the coffin with his initials indented in large Capitals.

We buried him between the hours of one & two p.m. & the Col. allowed Mr. Keyser, R. L. Tinker, Wm. O'Conner, & myself to go to the grave." (March 26, 1864)

 

A modern oil painting by artist Robert Scully of Pine Bush, NY, depicting the burial of Victor Bartlett, U.S.N., outside the gates of the Confederate Prison of Salisbury, North Carolina, on the afternoon of March 26, 1864. John Keyser played an important role in Bartlett's burial. See profile of Bartlett for more details about the burial.

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Captain Julius B. Litchfield
Biographical Sketch

Julius B. Litchfield: Captain, United States Army, Company B, 4th Maine Volunteer Infantry.  Resident of Rockland, Maine.  Enlisted on June 15, 1861, as a Second Lieutenant; promoted at a later date to First Lieutenant and then to Captain.

He was captured at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, on July 2, 1863.  Confined to Libby Prison and transferred to Salisbury, North Carolina, on December 29, 1863, as a "hostage".  He escaped from Salisbury on March 25, 1864, and was recaptured on April 12, 1864, in Wilkes County, North Carolina.  The date of his discharge from Salisbury is not known.

In our research, we found the following Confederate document related to this officer:

Headquarters, Department of Henrico
Richmond, December 22, 1863

Hon. James A. Seddon, Secretary of War:

Sir: In obedience to instructions, I have the honor to report that the following officers have been selected from among the Federal prisoners confined here "to undergo hard labor during the war in the penitentiary at Salisbury, N.C., for a like number of our officers confined in the penitentiary at Alton, Ill. ", and that they will be immediately sent to Salisbury, to wit: 

Edward E. Chase, Captain, First Rhode Island;
Julius B. Litchfield, Captain, Fourth Maine;
Charles S. Kendall, Captain, First Massachusetts

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

John H. Winder, Brigadier-General

Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series II, Vol.VI, p.745

Excerpts from James' Diary

"At 5 o'clock the next morning we started for Salisbury, N.C., Capts. Kendall, Chase & Litchfield of the army being sent with us.  Arrived at Salisbury on the 30th." (December 29, 1863)

"Capts Litchfield & Reed slipped out on Friday night with a squad of conscripts & have not yet been heard from." (March 25, 1864)

"Capts Reed & Litchfield, who escaped from this place on the night of the 25th ult were brought in today.  They were captured in Wilkes Co. , [N.C.] within a days march or so, of the Blue Ridge."(April 12, 1864)

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Captain Benjamin C.R. Reed
Biographical Sketch

Benjamin C.R. Reed: Captain, United States Army, Company E, 3rd Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Enlisted as a Sergeant on April 24, 1861; was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant August 23, 1861; 1st Lieutenant on December 21, 1861; Captain on October 2, 1862.  

He was wounded October 8, 1862, at Chaplin Hills, KY. 

He was captured on May 3, 1863, outside of Rome, Georgia, and was confined on May 10, 1863, to the prison at Salisbury, North Carolina.  He escaped from prison on March 25, 1864, and was recaptured on April 12, 1864, in Wilkes County, North Carolina.  The date of his discharge from Salisbury is not known.

He reenlisted on September 21, 1864, as a Major in the 174th Ohio Infantry. He was killed on December 7, 1864, at Cedars, Tennessee.  

Excerpts from James' Diary

"I forgot to mention that on Monday night which was misty & dark, Capts Reed & Ives  with 26 "yankee deserters" attempted to leave but were stumbled upon by some of the guard,  & the Capts. & 6 of the men caught while of the balance retreated back to their quarters." (March 1, 1864)

"Capts Reed & Ives were today released from their dungeon & are now held as prisoners of war, by an order from Richmond." (March 5, 1864)

"Capts Litchfield & Reed slipped out on Friday night with a squad of conscripts & have not yet been heard from." (March 25, 1864)

"Capts Reed & Litchfield, who escaped from this place on the night of the 25th ult were brought in today.  They were captured in Wilkes Co. , [N.C.] within a days march or so, of the Blue Ridge."(April 12, 1864)

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Sergeant Godfrey Sparks

Biographical Sketch

Godfrey Sparks: enlisted February 2, 1864 in New York City and mustered into Company C, 88th NY Infantry. He was made prisoner of war May 8, 1864, at Spotsylvania Court House, VA, and confined to Andersonville Prison where he died of scorbutus on September 28, 1864 .  His grave number is 9954. 

Excerpt from James' Diary

"J.Commerfort & Godfrey Sparks came in to fill up [the chebang]." (July 30, 1864)

 

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Chaplain Henry Clay Trumball

Biographical Sketch
Frederic James became associated with Henry Clay Trumbull when they were both prisoners of war in the Confederate prison at Columbia, S.C. James was interred there from September 14 until November 14, 1863.

Trumbull (1830-1903) was a resident of Hartford, CT.  He enlisted in the military on September 10, 1862, as a Chaplain, and was commissioned into the Field & Staff of the 10th Connecticut Infantry. It is reported that he was made a POW on July 19, 1863, at Morris Island, S.C. We know from James's diary that Trumbull was also a prisoner at Columbia when James arrived on September 14. James records that Trumbull left the prison on November 6 "for the North". He was mustered out on November 24, the exact location is not recorded.  After the war, Trumbull resided in Pennsylvania.

Frederic James seems to have greatly appreciated the Sunday services which the Rev. Trumbull conducted in the Columbia prison as well as the reading materials which the Minister was able to supply to James and other prisoners. 

 

 

Excerpt from James' Diary

 " While we were in Columbia, the Rev. H. Clay Trumbull Chaplain of the Conn. 10th Reg. preached to us every Sunday morning in the jail yard until he left for the north on Nov. 6th: we have had no other opportunities for attending public worship since we were captured.  His preaching was extempore, plain, practical, & to the point, & was well received by all... We obtained a few books of chaplain Trumbull at Columbia, & borrowed two or three of the soldiers (prisoners) at Richmond, & also some old papers and magazines."

From summary diary entry written prior to February 27, 1864

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