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Larry Purtell
Little Meadows
PA USA
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Posts: 1739
Joined: 2004
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October 6, 1863. Plight of a prisoner.
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From the Semi Weekly Wisconsin October 6, 1863. Part II to follow.
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"My goal is to live forever. So far, so good.
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Phil Andrade
London
UK
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Posts: 6378
Joined: 2004
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October 6, 1863. Plight of a prisoner.
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What a brilliant choice of newspaper source, Larry ! It’s too easy to overlook the large number of prisoners that the confederates had captured at Gettysburg. We think of the defeat of the rebels there, but we tend to forget about how much success they had won on the first and second days of the battle.
This account is disciplined, accurate and very revealing, written as it was by a surgeon of high credentials in terms of his intelligence, literacy and powers of observation.
There’s a lot to think about here. Thanks so much.
Regards, Phil
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"Egad, sir, I do not know whether you will die on the gallows or of the pox!"
"That will depend, my Lord, on whether I embrace your principles or your mistress."
Earl of Sandwich and John Wilkes
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Michigan Dave
Muskegon
MI USA
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Posts: 8063
Joined: 2006
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October 6, 1863. Plight of a prisoner.
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Larry, & Phil,
Can you imagine how down trodden Union prisoners were, realizing they are leaving their beloved well supplied North. Heading for God knows what in a desolate Southern Prison! They had to think if the Confederate Army is so poorly supplied, what will I as a POW face!??
What say you? MD
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"The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract."
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mikecmaps
CAMARILLO
CA USA
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Posts: 213
Joined: 2020
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October 6, 1863. Plight of a prisoner.
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Group
From the other perspective
WILLIAM COLLIE 5th NC Inf: a record of hardship By Michael Collie
William Collie #516 Confederate Service Record Private Company F 5th NC Inf. Enlisted 8 Aug 1862 at Albemarle, NC by Colonel Davis Age:24 Height:5ft5in (b. ~1838) Hair:light Eyes:hazel Complexion:light Born:Stanly Co., NC Occupation:farmer Sick in hospital; 31 Oct 1862 to 24 Nov 1862 (Hospital No.1, Richmond) Furloughed home for 25 days 24 Nov to 19 Dec 1862 Present with company in Jan & Feb 1863 furloughed part of Jan and absent w/o leave several days. Present Feb 1863 Absent sick May and June 1863 admitted to Gen. Hospital No.2, Richmond, Va. 6 June 1863: Typhoid. Transferred to Chimborazo Hosp. 13 July 1863: Scurvy Deserted Hosp. 13 Aug 1863 Returned from desertion 24 Nov 1863 Present with regiment Jan to Apr 1864
Captured 12 May 1864 battle of Spotsylvania CH. Moved to Point Lookout, Md 23 May 1864 from Belle Plain, Va Transferred to Elmira, NY 3 July 1864 (arrived 6 Jul)
Died 5 March 1865: Diarrhea Grave Location No. 2011
at Spotsylvania 5th NC had 26 kia 67 wia 15 w&c 123 mia tot 231; Johnston's NC Brigade
These few lines give the bitter experience of one civil war soldier. It is typical of many. It speaks of an experience of hardship with little glory. It’s not known if William is related to me. His record was found while researching other Collie relatives. I do know we had family as far south as Highpoint, migrating from Danville for some 100 years. Albemarle about 60-75 miles further south.
"For there has never been a protracted war from which a country has benefited."-Sun Tzu, The Art of War (II-7-8)
this info had been a sidebar on my old civilwardispatch site 2008-2013 now defunct portions may still be found on the wayback machine
thanks, Mike_C mikecmaps
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Phil Andrade
London
UK
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Posts: 6378
Joined: 2004
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October 6, 1863. Plight of a prisoner.
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How right you are, Mike !
Hardship and squalour killed greater numbers than enemy fire, although, Lord knows, the furious fighting killed enough.
Regards, Phil
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"Egad, sir, I do not know whether you will die on the gallows or of the pox!"
"That will depend, my Lord, on whether I embrace your principles or your mistress."
Earl of Sandwich and John Wilkes
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