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Memories of Rebel Prisons

 Collection
Identifier: MS 00217

  • Staff Only
  • No requestable containers

Scope and Contents

Bound manuscript titled "Memories of Rebel Prisons".  Contains a list of Union prisoners from the Civil War kept in the Confederate prisons of 'Castle Thunder' and 'Libby' in Richmond, Virginia and a prison in Salisbury, North Carolina.  A memorandum written by Joshua Harris Aubin dated May 14, 1940 reads, "The first thirty pages are in hand writing of Captain W.B. Galucia (1834- 1902), after that in my hand-writing although I cannot recall when or in what circumstances."

Galucia's writing contains a list of enlisted men at 'Castle Thunder', July 3, 1862. He also describes life in the prison and the abysmal conditions suffered by those under Confederate guard.  Later the soldiers were moved to Belle Isle to make room for civilian prisoners.  Many soldiers died after that move as a result of their conditions, provisions, and treatment.  Galacia and surviving prisoners were paroled in late 1862.

The volume continues with Aubin's transcription of almost 500 more names, including rank, regiment, and outcome of Union prisoners.  Aubin also transcribed portions of a diary written by F. Hall, who was imprisoned in November 1864 as was held at 'Libby' prison in Richmond, Virginia and a prison in Salisbury, North Carolina until his death in the prison hospital December 30, 1864.  Aubin also transcribed an article by Lieutenant G. Duncan Forsyth titled "Life in Libby Prison, Another Officer's Experience" from the Toledo Blade newspaper November 1863.  Forsyth served with the 100th Ohio Volunteer Infantry.  Forsyth gives an account of the squalid conditions and scant provisions provided to the prisoners.

Dates

  • Creation: 1883

Creator

Language of Materials

English

Conditions Governing Access:

Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.

Conditions Governing Use:

Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.

Extent

0.25 Linear Feet

Title
Guide to the Memories of Rebel Prisons
Author
Finding Aid Authors: Christina R. Luers.
Date
2016-03-24
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
The collection description/finding aid is written in English

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections Research Center Repository

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