Private Henry S. BOISCLAIR enrolled in state service at Charlston in Tallahatchie County, Mississippi on 27 APR 1861 in Captain William H. Fitzgerald's Tallahatchie Rifles. He was 23 years of age. The company was transferred into Confederate service as part of Brandon's 1st Mississippi Infantry. With the addition of two more companies in September 1861, this battalion became the 21st Mississippi Infantry regiment and was sent to Virginia.

According to a summary of engagements that I found in his Compiled Military Service Records, Henry was detailed away from the regiment on July 2nd and July 3rd at Gettysburg. Federal POW records show that he was captured on 5 JUL 1863 at Cashtown and taken to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He was then sent to Fort Delaware via Philadelphia arriving in the time window 7/12 JUL 1863. Federal POW records show that he escaped by swimming on the night of 12/13 AUG 1863. He was paid in Richmond, Virginia on 2 SEP 1863 and rejoined his company. His escape and return to his unit is also documented in his company muster rolls.

3rd Sergeant William F. Miller, Company D, 21st Mississippi Infantry escaped the same night. It is fair to presume that they went together. A total of 9 men were reported to have attempted to escape on the night of 12/13 AUG 1863. The actual number may have been slightly higher. Four were reported recaptured in the Delaware River. So far, we have been able to identify by name seven successful escapees including Henry S. BOISCLAIR thanks to your query. See my response to Mike Thompson on this message board dated 16 APR 2010 under the subject line "Tobe Edmondson's Escape Narrative".

This casts further doubt on Tobe Edmondson's post war claim of escape since the only one he named with a CMSR escape record was Private Thomas A. STEWART, Company K, Turney's 1st Tennessee Infantry.

Can you tell us something about Henry S. BOISCLAIR? Looking for basic biographical information such as dates and places of birth and marriage(s), plus some commentary on his occupation and his post war life? Mitchell Sanders has posted the information that Henry was a resident of Beauvoir Confederate Veterans Home in Biloxi, and that he "crossed over the river" on 5 MAR 1909 at the age of 72.

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