Description:

FORT WARREN PRISONER OF WAR ALBUM
Important autograph album filled with the signatures of approx. 110 prisoners held during the Civil War at Fort Warren, a very solid, newly-built structure located on Georges Island at the entrance to Boston Harbor. During the Civil War, the fort served as a prison camp for both Confederate prisoners of war and political prisoners. The signatures are contained in a period gilt-embossed autograph book with embossed cardboard covers. It was apparently created by a 'Col. Hamilton' whose name is penciled on the front pastedown. Within. the vast majority of those signing add to their signatures, usually their rank, regiment, and very often the circumstances of their capture. A small selection of those signing includes: Brig Gen. JOHN GREGG (1828-1864), 'Col. Texas Volunteers'; Brig. Gen. HIRAM B. GRANBURY (1831-1864); Brig. Gen. WILLIAM E. BALDWIN (1827-1864); Brig. Gen. GEORGE B. COSBY (1830-1909); Brig. Gen. SIMON BOLIVAR BUCKNER (1823-1914); Brig. Gen. JOHN C. BROWN (1827-1889); Brig. Gen. HYLAN B. LYON (836-1907); Brig. Gen. ROGER W. HANSON (1827-1863); Brig. Gen. WILLIAM W. MACKALL (1817-1891), 'surrendered at Liptonville'; C.S.A. Cmndr. JOHN K. MITCHELL; Capt. SAM D. S. CHESNEY 3rd La. Bn. 'taken prisoner at the Battle of Mechanicsville; Col. JOSEPH DRAKE 4th Miss. Regt. 'surrendered at the fall of Ft. Donelson'; Lt. Col. G. GANTT, 9th Btty. Tn Cav.; A. F. HAILEY[?], Commander of CSA ram Manassas; Lt. Col. J. M. WELLS, 3rd Miss. Vols.; Chaplain J. EDWARD MARTIN, 1st Va. Regt. 'He will defend a just cause'; Col. A. HEIMAN[?], 10th Tn. Vols, 'Was surrendered at Fort Donelson'; CALRKE J. DURANT 'Late member of the Legislature of Maryland...'; E. G. KILBOURN 'Late Speaker of the House of Delegates of Maryland...'; Col. A. A. HUGHES, 27th Al. Regt.; AUSTIN E. SMITH 'Kidnapped Aug. 2d 1861 in New York in transit from San Francisco to my dear old Virginia . I bide my time...'; CHARLES HOWARD 'Late Commissioner of Police City of Baltimore'; WILLIAM H. WINDER, brother of CSA Gen. John H. Winder; GEORGE W. BROWN, mayor of Baltimore; and many, many more. The spine bears a large chip, covers worn with damping affecting a few pages within only slightly. An important historic piece. On October 31,1861 the first prisoners arrived at Fort Warren: 155 political prisoners and over 600 Confederate soldiers. Throughout the war, the fort held over 2,300 prisoners within its walls, of whom only 13 died, a remarkably low percentage compared with other Civil War prison camps, north and south. The population included Generals Richard S. Ewell, Isaac R. Trimble, John Gregg, Adam 'Stovepipe' Johnson, Simon Bolivar Buckner Sr., and Lloyd Tilghman. Political prisoners included diplomats James M. Mason and John Slidell from the Trent Affair, Confederate Postmaster General John H. Reagan, and writer Edward A. Pollard. However, the most infamous prisoner was Alexander H. Stephens, Vice President of the Confederacy, held there beginning in May 1865.

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May 4, 2025 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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