REBEL ZEALOTS REFUSE TO TAKE THE OATH!
Terrific A.D., 4pp. 4to., Johnson's Island, Ohio, May 8, 1865, a list of hardened Confederate prisoners who refused to take the "Oath of Amnesty" to the United States, which would have led to their freedom and restoration of their rights. Instead, many of these men would remain in confinement under harsh condition for months longer. Indeed, some would never take the oath! The list, penned in a neat cursive hand, is headed: "List of Prisoners at Johnson's Island, Ohio who declined applying for the 'Oath of Amensty' to the U.S. Government up to May 8th 1865". It lists by state four privates, 40 lieutenants, 22 captains, four majors, one lieutenant colonel, three colonels and one brigadier general from Kentucky, Louisiana, Virginia, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina, Mississippi, North Carolina, Florida, Missouri, Maryland and Texas. Also included are the prisoners' regiments and residences. The last page bears a recapitulation, and most interestingly, includes two British subjects being held as prisoners. Accompanied by an envelope bearing the same title and signed by the list's author, C.S.A. 2nd Lt. HENRY M. GRAVES. List bears two clean 2" splits, else fine. The list was compiled by Henry M. Graves, a native of Baltimore. When war broke out, Graves joined the Virginia Provisional Army as a Second Lieutenant and was assigned to work on the Norfolk defenses and then those of Roanoke Island. He was later made engineer in charge of Fort Boykin. Graves was captured at Sayler's Creek on April 6, 1865 and sent to Johnson's Island. On May 8, 1865 he, with those on this list, refused to take the Oath of Allegiance and gain his freedom to finally go home. Eventually, the burden of defeat overcame the Johnson Island prisoners and they began to take the Oath starting June 13, 1865 through the rest of the month. However, there were those diehards like A.L. Gusman of the 8th Louisiana Infantry who continually refused to take the oath. He was then sent to Fort Lafayette in New York Harbor on September 6, 1865. The brigadier general, William Hugh Young, was wounded four times, the last at Allatoona, Georgia after having his horse shot from under him. He continued to lead his men on foot until his left foot was all but shot off by an artillery projectile. Along with a transcript, biographical details and military records on nearly every soldier mentioned in the list, literally hundreds of hours of effort! In fine presentation binder.