Hi Michael:

I am interested in learning more about the prisoner exchange process prior to the signing of the Dix-Hill Cartel on July 22, 1862. It has been my understanding that prior to this date, individual and special group exchanges were made between Fortress Monroe and the Confederates across the river in Norfolk. These exchanges were made "man for man" and were completed at the delivery point. That is, upon delivery, each POW was relieved of his parole promises and free to return to duty. If his counterpart was not present at the delivery point, the man proposed for exchange was returned to the military prison where he was initially held to await another opportunity. There were no "parole camps" such as came into existence under the Dix-Hill Cartel. Under the operations of the Dix-Hill Cartel, everybody brought to the delivery point was released on parole to the other side. Those delivered in excess to one side or the other were held in parole camps by their own side to await a declaration of exchange. This "exchange" was largely an accounting process.

I have studied Union and Confederate records under this cartel. Delivery of paroled prisoners to their respective sides in the east under the Dix-Hill Cartel was made at Aiken's Landing on the north bank of the James River. Union POWs were then taken to Camp Parole (Annapolis), Maryland. An overflow of 750-1,000 , men went to Fort Delaware because Camp Parole was full. They remained there from 17 SEPT 1862 until 20 DEC 1862 when they were forwarded to Camp Parole and soon declared exchanged. It is possible that other nearby locations were pressed into service as temporary parole camps and there may have been one a Alexandria, Virginia.

I just spent several minutes scanning the Official Records, Series II, Volume III (Cornell University online) without finding any mention of a Union parole camp at Alexandria. What is the source of your information that there was one?

I am not aware of anyone participating in this CWMB who has access to the list of Union prisoners held at Libby or any other specific Confederate POW camp. Most of this information, to the extent that it survived, should have ended up in the individual soldier's Compiled Military Service Records (CMSR).

I checked the National Park Service's online Index to the CMSR. The 94th New York Infantry was formed 10 MAR 1862 in the second year of the war and sent to Washington, DC. The regiment was first engaged in battle at Cedar Mountain in northern Virginia on 9 AUG 1862. Except for some unusual circumstances prior to 9 AUG 1862, I would expect Lieutenant/Captain A. E. Cooley to have been captured at Cedar Mountain, 2nd Manassas or some later engagement in the Maryland Campaign.

By this date, the Dix-Hill Cartel would have been in force and any POWs captured required to be delivered to their own side within 10 days of capture, or as soon as practicable thereafter. Fort Delaware received a couple of thousand Confederate POWs from the battles of South Mountain and Antietam in September 1862. These men were delivered to Confederate authorities on October 4th/5th at Aiken's Landing. From here they went to Confederate parole camps in Richmond and perhaps Petersburg. Their Union counterparts delivered at Aiken's Landing went to Camp Parole, Maryland. I have not yet found any mention of Union facilities in Alexandria, Virginia being used as part of this parole process, but it is entirely possible that there were some, perhaps for the Officers.

So back your initial query: where did you get the information that Lieutenant/Captain A. E. Cooley was delivered to his own side at Aiken's Landing and sent by water to Alexandria, Virginia to remain until he was declared exchanged in the subsequent exchange accounting process?

Hugh Simmons
Fort Delaware Society