Frank, That is the saddest part of all. There were quite a few who were willing to provide blankets and clothing. The clothing sent by a prisoners family was not given to him. There was a merchant in the town of Elmira who had been paid by many a family who was left holding the merchandise. The orders to not distribute it was solely the camp commanders. Special consideration was said to be given to those proven (in the hospital barracks and under the doctor's care) sick, but I didn't read where they actually got the stuff. It may be denied til 'Kingdom Come' but the records (OR's) show there was a very different picture in what was supposed to be allowed and what really was. They were starved and allowed to die with deliberation. No other excuse can answer for it.

The 'Cotton Exchange' was one big mess. By the time they got around to getting the cotton from Mobile to New York, the price had dropped to almost nothing. I haven't seen anything that tells what the Confederate government or quartermasters did with the share for Union prisoners but it seems to me like they would have had a problem finding any goods to provide.

Pam