Hello Stan:

The time line I laid out pertains to Fort Delaware only. But the dates of the Confederate surrenders and the series of War Department general orders issued pertain to all POW camps. Information and orders were communicated by telegraph in a matter of hours, so there is no valid argument the camp commandants "didn't know" what they were supposed to do. The precise dates of release would have varied camp-by-camp because of transporation/logistics issues.

My 12th Louisiana Infantry research indicated that there were some releases on parole (May 1865) from Camp Douglas who were sent to New Orleans and delivered to Confederate authorities in Louisiana at Red River Landing. Given the general orders from the War Department that sere sent by telegraph to all posts, I need to re-examine these records.

Watching the POW camp special on History Channel a couple of years back, I was left with the impression that one day the doors were flung wide open at Camp Douglas and everybody walked home. I find that hard to believe although some noted Civil War experts put their stamp of approval on the program.

This "going home" theme has been bubbling through the correspondence on several of the CWMB's. The Fort Delaware time line helps me respond to queries about Fort Delaware POWs which are sent to the Society. I was surprised at the rapidity with which the POWs were released and dispersed.

My other objective for the Fort Delaware time line is to collect contemporary narratives of the trip home. Most of what we have comes from a few of the officers. A representative collection of fact based stories would make a nice article for a future issue of the Fort Delaware Notes.

Thanks for checking out the time line and for responding!

Hugh Simmons
Fort Delaware Society
www.fortdelaware.org
E-Mail: society@fortdelaware.org