Abraham Tower Leaves Andersonville Prison
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My Civil War Ancestor Survived Andersonville
I knew that my great-great grandfather survived the notorious Andersonville Civil War prison, but I didn't have many details on that time in his life. In particular, I was curious about his leaving the prison. The prisoner exchanges had broken down with the North and South unable to agree on the exchange of captured black soldiers. Over 12,000 of Andersonville's prisoners of war were buried in the cemetery near the prison.
My grandfather survived and was paroled from Andersonville in December 1864. How did this happen? Apparently his release was just in time as he was suffering from the many illnesses that killed other prisoners. He weighed a mere 73 pounds at time of release, so was just skin and bones after six months in Andersonville.
Read on to see what I discovered about his release.
(photo is one I took in the cemetery at Andersonville Prison. Thank goodness, my great-great grandfather did not die there like many of the men from his regiment did)
My grandfather survived and was paroled from Andersonville in December 1864. How did this happen? Apparently his release was just in time as he was suffering from the many illnesses that killed other prisoners. He weighed a mere 73 pounds at time of release, so was just skin and bones after six months in Andersonville.
Read on to see what I discovered about his release.
(photo is one I took in the cemetery at Andersonville Prison. Thank goodness, my great-great grandfather did not die there like many of the men from his regiment did)
Reduction of Union Prisoners in Andersonville Prison
September to November 1864
- Historical Background, Andersonville Civil War Prison, Southeast Archaeological Center
- Details about the transfer of Union prisoners in September 1864 due to Sherman's troops occupying Atlanta and concerns about possible Union troops raiding Andersonville. The Andersonville prisoners were distributed to other Southern prisons. By the middle of November 1864 only 1500 prisoners remained in the prison, greatly relieving the overcrowding of earlier days.
More prisoners were transferred into Andersonville in late December. By then, my great-great grandfather would have left. The population in late December was about 5000 and stayed that low until the end of the Civil War in April 1865.
“I never felt so utterly depressed, cursed, and God-forsaken in all my life before. Pvt Walter Smith”
Recommended Reading about Andersonville
William Marvel researched primary source material to compile a detailed account of events at the Andersonville Civil War Prison.
Nov. 14, 1864 New York Times Account of Prisoner Exchange
Abraham Bates Tower was not fortunate enough to be in this exchange.
- THE EXCHANGE OF PRISONERS. - Preliminary Preparations Escape of Prisoners from Colombia A Fearful Story of Suffering. - Front Page - NYTimes.com
- It seems an exchange was arranged to trade sick prisoners from each side. It appears that a lottery determined which of the men would be among the 10,000 freed from the prisons.
The Union sent steam ships to deliver the rebel prisoners and take back the union ones. Read the newspaper account to get more of the details. - Sketch Showing Exchanged Prisoners November 18, 1864
- This Civil War Harper's Weekly features a picture of Exchanged Civil War Prisoners on the "Eliza Hancock."
Parole date from Andersonville Prison
December 6, 1864
Countdown to Anniversary of His Parole from Andersonville
Anniversary of His Parole from Andersonville: December 6, 2012
December 10, 1864 - Exchange of Prisoners
It is possible that my great-great grandfather was on this steamship. His parole date was a few days before this newspaper issue came out. Take a look at the link below which shows a sketch of the ragged, emaciated prisoners receiving care on the steamship New York.
Steamer New York by lc_civilwar
Steamer New York by lc_civilwar
- Harper's Weekly Issue - December 10, 1864
- This Civil War Harper's Weekly features a sketch and story on Exchanged and Freed Prisoners aboard the steamship New York. The article says the freed prisoners were given baths and new clothing to replace their rags. They were served coffee and boiled ham.
John W. Urban's Description of the 1864 Prisoner Exchange
- Horrors of Andersonville
- Go to page 8 of the PDF file to read John W. Urban's description of being exchanged and his experience on the steamer New York. The ship went to Annapolis, Maryland. Urban said the band played "Home, Sweet Home" He was hospitalized for seven months. In 1886 he wrote a memoir titled Battlefield and Prison Pen.
Battlefield to Prison Pen
Book by John W. Urban
Abraham Tower Probably Went to Camp Parole in Maryland
near Annapolis
Mess Hall,for a Hospital, Washington, DC 1865 by lc_civilwar
I imagine that Camp Parole had a similar place for the recuperating paroled prisoners to eat.
- Camp Parole, Maryland
- Page 4 tells about the Andersonville prisoners being paroled in late 1864 and transferred by steamship to Camp Parole in Maryland.
Found on the Civil War Forum
Private John Mason Labbree of Pennsylvania was paroled at Charleston, SC from Andersonville on December 6, 1864. He went to a Union Hospital, Camp Parole, on December 17, 1864. He spent six months there recovering, then was released from the hospital. Discharged June 18, 1865.
Abraham Bates Tower Went Home to Indiana
I'm not sure how long he was in the hospital (probably at Camp Parole, Maryland, near Annapolis). The Civil War mostly ended with General Lee's surrender of his army on April 9, 1865. The last fighting of the war was in June of 1865, then Confederate General Stand Watie surrendered his troops on June 23, 1865.
Abraham Tower traveled home to Crawford County, Indiana, only to find that his wife and children were no longer there. He reunited with them in Missouri where they had gone to live with his wife's sister. He was missing and presumed dead after the Battle of Brice's Crossroads.
Read more about Abraham Bates Tower's life after the Civil War.
Abraham Tower traveled home to Crawford County, Indiana, only to find that his wife and children were no longer there. He reunited with them in Missouri where they had gone to live with his wife's sister. He was missing and presumed dead after the Battle of Brice's Crossroads.
Read more about Abraham Bates Tower's life after the Civil War.
Places Mentioned in This Page
Click on the red flags to read the description of each
Click on the - (minus sign) to see the whole map.
My Pages about the Civil War and Abraham Bates Tower
Have You Researched a Civil War Ancestor?
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Evelyn_Saenz
Nov 8, 2011 @ 7:43 pm | delete
- Yes, My Great, great-grandfather was also a prisoner of war. They had a funereal for him here in Vermont but after the war, he came home and lived to be 94 years old. He too was quite emaciated when he left the prison. I am not sure what prison he was in.
Blessed by a SquidAngel!
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vallain Nov 18, 2011 @ 6:55 pm | delete
- Evelyn - give me the name and I'll check it in the Andersonville database for you. It's possible that our ancestors suffered in the same place.
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WindyWinters
Nov 8, 2011 @ 4:25 pm | delete
- I did extensive research on my paternal great-grandmother's family tree for nine long years before Squidoo. Her grandfather and great-grandfather (as well other ancestors) served in the Civil War. I have a geneology cousin that completed the Civil War research on the two...and it was fascinating to read some of the records. I thought about making a few hubs years ago but it has been on the backburner since Squidoo. Thanks for sharing your info, Virginia. :)
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Joan4
Nov 8, 2011 @ 12:05 am | delete
- My sisters do more genealogy research than I do, but I do know that we have Civil War ancestors. Looking at your map, I can just imagine the hardships of all those long trips in that day.
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AlleyCatLane
Nov 5, 2011 @ 8:38 pm | delete
- Yes, I lived and breathed genealogy for about three straight years a number of years ago. It was fascinating. I may have to pull out my journals and do a few Squidoo lenses myself on my ancestors. You have inspired me.
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