Welcome to Ohio: Guarding the Fort Donelson Prisoners at Camp Chase

In the aftermath of the Federal victory at Fort Donelson, thousands of Confederate prisoners of war were sent north to camps in Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. Lieutenant Farley Bisett of the 74th Ohio was tasked with guarding the group of Confederate officers sent to Camp Chase near Columbus, Ohio. "They were a hard-looking set. Some of them might be good looking men if they had clothes to dress themselves with, but they are very badly clothed. They all appear to think that if they get back, they will let the rebellion take its own course and have nothing to do with it," he noted. More importantly, he also took the names and regiments of quite a few of these officers and recorded them for posterity. 

          Lieutenant Bisett’s letter first appeared in the March 4, 1862, edition of the Zanesville Daily Courier.

 

Camp Chase had been used as a mustering camp as Ohio sent thousands of men to the front in 1861-1862 and was used to house Confederate prisoners of war starting in February. Eventually, troubles developed as many of the Confederate officers imprisoned there were given the run of the city of Columbus leading to the commissioned officers being sent to Johnson's Island. 

Camp Chase, Ohio

March 1, 1862

          Our usually quiet camp was thrown into a fever of excitement this afternoon by the arrival of about 300 Rebel officers taken at Fort Donelson. They were brought up by a detachment of the 15th Regulars and were received at the depot by three companies of the 74th Ohio and two companies from the 69th Ohio. They were a hard-looking set. Some of them might be good looking men if they had clothes to dress themselves with, but they are very badly clothed. They all appear to think that if they get back, they will let the rebellion take its own course and have nothing to do with it. But that’s all humbug.

          One of our prisoners, an assistant surgeon, said as he saw the American flag flying from the flag staff “must we walk under that damned rag” when one of our boys told him if he called that a rag again, he would run a bayonet through him. That effectually quieted Mr. Secesh and he said nothing more about the “rag.” I suppose he saw enough bayonet work at Fort Donelson.

          We expect to have to stay here this month and guard the gentlemen. Our boys say if these are specimens of Secesh officers, they will take the privates two to one. I send you a list of the names of some of them. I tried to get the names of all but was forbidden. Those that I conversed with were tired of war and said that they would like to see peace again restored to our now distracted country.

Colonel William E. Baldwin, 14th Mississippi Infantry

 

Name                    Rank           Regt & State

J.R. Stevens                 1st Lt.               4th Mississippi Infantry

J.H. Conner                 2nd Lt.              4th Mississippi Infantry

J. Williams                   Civilian            with 4th Mississippi Infantry

William E. Baldwin      Colonel            14th Mississippi Infantry

A.S. Scott                    Capt                 14th Mississippi Infantry

Washington L. Doss    Major               14th Mississippi Infantry

W.H. Vesser                Commissary     14th Mississippi Infantry

E.T. Mortinier             2nd Lt.              14th Mississippi Infantry

H.W. Doss                   2nd Lt.              14th Mississippi Infantry

E.O. Sykes                  Sgt Major         14th Mississippi Infantry

Tully F. Parker             Major               26th Mississippi Infantry

Jack W. Thompson      2nd Lt.              26th Mississippi Infantry

John C. Barton             2nd Lt.              26th Mississippi Infantry

M.F. Benton                Capt                 26th Mississippi Infantry

Thos. Williams            2nd Lt.              26th Mississippi Infantry

D.C. Symmes               Drill Master     32nd Tennessee Infantry

R.F. McCant                2nd Lt.              32nd Tennessee Infantry

W.P. O’Neil                 Capt                 32nd Tennessee Infantry

Thomas G. Miller        Major               41st Tennessee Infantry

W.A. Smith                  Asst. Surg        41st Tennessee Infantry

W.E. Bellinger             1st Lt.               41st Tennessee Infantry

T.J. Morris                   1st Lt.               49th Tennessee Infantry

H.V. Harrison              2nd Lt.              49th Tennessee Infantry

M.J. Drangloon            3rd Lt.              49th Tennessee Infantry

L.W. Teasley                2nd Lt.              49th Tennessee Infantry

H.M. Grimes               2nd Lt.              49th Tennessee Infantry

H.B. Evans                  2nd Lt.              49th Tennessee Infantry

R.H. Cowan                 1st Lt.               3rd Tennessee Cavalry

J.H. Akin                     Capt                 9th Battalion, Tennessee Cavalry

T.N. Sale                     2nd Lt.              Porter’s Tennessee Battery

J.H. Moore                   Capt                 Topographical Engineers

Source:

Letter from First Lieutenant Farley D. Bisett, Co. H, 74th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Zanesville Daily Courier (Ohio), March 4, 1862, pg. 2

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