Confederate Prisoners at Fort Delaware : The Legend of Mistreatment Reexamined

During the Civil War, each side accused the other of mistreating prisoners of war. Today, most historians believe that there was systemic and deliberate abuse of POWs by both sides yet many base their conclusions on anecdotal evidence, much of it from postwar writings. Drawing on both contemporaneous prisoner diaries and Union Army documents (some newly discovered), the author presents a fresh and detailed study of supposed mistreatment of prisoners at Fort Delaware--one of the largest Union prison camps--and draws surprising conclusions, some of which have implications for the entire Union prison system. During The Civil War, Drawing On Contemporaneous Prisoner Diaries And Union Army Documents (some Newly Discovered), The Author Presents A Fresh And Detailed Study Of Supposed Prisoner Mistreatment At Fort Delaware--one Of The Largest Union Prison Camps--and Draws Some Surprising Conclusions, Some Of Which Have Implications For The Entire Union Prison Camp System-- Topography And Weather -- Command Structure, Personnel And Administration -- Prison Camp Administration And Security -- The Food Ration -- The Prison Fund -- Shelter And Clothing -- Water Supply And Sanitation -- Outside Help -- Medical Care -- Death Rates: The Final Arbiter -- Life On Pea Patch Island -- Freedom! -- Conclusions. Joel D. Citron. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Cover 1 Acknowledgments 6 Table of Contents 8 List of Abbreviations 9 Preface 10 1. Topography and Weather 14 2. Command Structure, Personnel and Administration 20 3. Prison Camp Administration and Security 28 4. The Food Ration 48 5. The Prison Fund 66 6. Shelter and Clothing 81 7. Water Supply and Sanitation 91 8. Outside Help 103 9. Medical Care 114 10. Death Rates: The Final Arbiter 147 11. Life on Pea Patch Island 163 12. Freedom! 184 13. Conclusions 193 Epilogue 207 Appendix: The Shotwell Fort Delaware “Diary” 214 Chapter Notes 222 Bibliography 232 Index 234 "During the Civil War, drawing on contemporaneous prisoner diaries and Union Army documents (some newly discovered), the author presents a fresh and detailed study of supposed prisoner mistreatment at Fort Delaware--one of the largest Union prison camps--and draws some surprising conclusions, some of which have implications for the entire Union prison camp system"-- Provided by publisher Drawing on prisoner diaries and Union Army documents (some newly discovered), this volume presents a fresh and detailed study of supposed prisoner mistreatment at Fort Delaware - one of the largest Union prison camps - and draws some surprising conclusions, some of which have implications for the entire Union prison camp system.