| As was the case for many prisoners of war, both
Confederate and Union, James was moved from one prison to another at a
brief moment's notice. There was a loss of friends and associates
and a break-up of one's so-called residences, however tenuous they might
have been. With the relocation to a total of five different
prisons, the death of friends, separation of other friends to other
locations, James was moved to record the impact of all this in his diary
on June 26th, 1864: "Began to mess by myself today." |
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The Prison Journey
of Frederick Augustus James
Having been captured at Fort Sumter on the night of September 8,
1963, Frederic Augustus James was held in a temporary prison at
the Fort that first night. On September 9, he was transferred to a
number of prisons in South Carolina, Virginia, North Carolina, and
finally to Georgia. |
September 8/9, 1863
Fort Sumter
Charleston Harbor, South Carolina

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"I was captured at Fort Sumter upon the night of Sept. 8 1863 having
landed there as one of a storming party from the U.S. Blockading Fleet off
Charleston... Wednesday the 9th we spent in Fort Sumter."
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September 10-14, 1863
Charleston
City Jail
Charleston, South Carolina
| The Charleston City Jail was a four-story large octagonal brick
building surmounted by a 40-foot tower. It was often the first stop of
Union prisoners newly arrived in Charleston before being transferred to other
locations. A 12-foot high wall surrounded a one acre
enclosure. |
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"Was held in "Charleston Jail" until Monday, Sept
14..."
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September 14 - November 14, 1863
The Richland District Jail
Columbia, South Carolina
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Richland was a regular County Jail for Richland County, located on Washington
Street in the heart of Columbia, SC. It was a three story building under the
command of Captain Rufus D. Senn at the time of James' confinement. |
"Upon the 14th we were sent to
Columbia S.C. by rail, where we were quartered in barracks in the Richland
(district) Jailyard, until the 14th of Nov... Capt. Senn, the officer in
command, treated us in the best manner."
|
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November 16-December 28, 1863 The Crew's Building
Night of December 28, 1863
The Libby Prison
Libby Prison and the Crews Building at the rear
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Richmond, Virginia
The Crew's Building, formerly a tobacco factory, was located on 21st & Carey Streets. It was a four
story building, each floor measuring 100x25 feet.
The Libby Prison, located on 20th & Carey Streets, was formerly
designated as Libby & Son Ship Chandlers & Grocers. The front of
the building was three stories high, the first for officers, the second for
enlisted men, and the third for citizens. The building had a fourth story
in the rear, facing the canal. Each floor measured 90x135 feet and was divided
into three areas.
"Left Columbia upon the cars on Nov
14, and arrived in Richmond on Monday the 16th and were quartered in
"Crew's Building" nearly opposite the old "Libby",
where we remained until Dec 28, when 15 of us were selected to be held
as hostages...and were quartered for the night in the "Libby".
|
December 30, 1863 - May 27, 1864
Salisbury
Military Prison
Salisbury, North Carolina
| The prison was formerly a cotton factory known as Maxwell Chambers Factory
located in Rowan County. It consisted of a four-story brick building,
40x100 feet, together with six smaller buildings. A board fence
surrounded these buildings making an enclosure of approximately 16
acres. |
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| "At 5 o'clock the next morning [December 29] we
started for Salisbury, N.C., Capts. Kendall, Chase & Litchfield of
the Army being sent with us. Arrived at Salisbury on the 30th.
The weather was cold & blustering when we arrived
at Salisbury, & as our quarters were in the fourth or upper story of
an old brick woolen factory, & about half of the glass was broken
out, while we had no fire, we suffered a good deal during the first few
days. At last however we were allowed to have a rough fireplace
built, and the weather having moderated, & our broken windows having
been boarded up, we were able to live more comfortably. Our room
is much the pleasantest one in the building."
|
June 1, 1864 until his death on September 15, 1864
Andersonville Military Prison
Andersonville, Georgia
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"We were informed about noon [May 27, 1864] that we were going
to start for GA [Andersonville] this evening."
"June 1, 1864
Wednesday 1st. We began our career at Camp Sumter, Andersonville,
GA. The lot contains 18 acres & is fenced in by a solid
stockade of hard pine logs about 10 or 12 feet high. A light
railing runs around the inside, 20 feet from the stockade fence.
It is called the dead line... Between 19 & 20,000 prisoners are now
here which comprises about all of the prisoners held by the Sesesh,
except officers who are confined at Macon." |
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Frederic Augustus James died in Andersonville
Prison on September 15, 1864. His grave number is 8858. |
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