The subject of prisoners being released at the end of the war and a discussion of how they made their way home has surfaced from time to time on this board and several of the state discussion boards. I have put together a time line of events and orders that impacted the release of prisoners (Confederate, civilian, and Union convicts) from Fort Delaware.

This is posted on the Fort Delaware Society's new domain website. See www.fortdelaware.org and follow the linkages from the Home Page >>>> Website Directory Page (scroll down) >>>> Going Home - A Time Line.

I would appreciate any feedback you have about the contents. I am especially interested in collecting documented narratives of different soldier's experiences going home from Fort Delaware. Transportation was provided by water and rail to a point nearest the home of the returnee. The question is how close to home could the individuals get before having to walk the final miles home.

Hugh Simmons
Fort Delaware Society
Website: www.fortdelaware.org
Email: societ@fortdelaware.org