The surname is consistently spelled CALAWAY in the Confederate records. However a couple of Federal POW records show the surname as CALLOWAY and CALLAWAY. He signed the parole roster in October 1864 by making his mark.
J. D. CALAWAY was enrolled in Confederate service on 3 JUL 1861 at Fort Mitchell, Russell County, Alabama by Captain J. B. Feagin to serve for the duration of the war. He was promoted from 1st Corporal to 4th Sergeant of Company B, 15th Alabama Infantry on 1 JUN 1863. He was listed as missing in action on 2 JUL 1863 at Gettysburg in subsequent Company B muster rolls until early 1864 when he was noted to absent and a prisoner of war. He was promoted to 3rd Sergeant, Company B on 1 SEP 1863 while still listed as missing in action. There is no mention of his being wounded at Gettysburg in either the Confederate muster rolls or the Federal POW records.
Sergeant CALAWAY arrived at Fort Delaware via Fort McHenry on 6 JUL 1863. Records show that he was admitted to the Fort Delaware Post & Prison Hospital on 20 OCT 1864 some 15 months later, treated for an unstated aliment, and discharged on 30 OCT 1864. He was paroled for exchange at Fort Delaware on the same day among a group of sick and wounded POWs to be forwarded for exchange. The boat stopped at Point Lookout to pick up additional sick and wounded POWs on 31 OCT 1864. This combined group was then delivered to Confederate authorities at Venus Point, Savannah River, Georgia on 15 NOV 1864. A total of 3,023 paroled Confederate prisoners of war including 4 citizens, 4 surgeons, and 74 officers were delivered to Captain W H. Hatch, Confederate Assistant Agent of Exchange at Venus Point on this date.
In order to be selected for these “humanitarian” exchanges in the fall of 1864, a Union army surgeon had to certify that the selected prisoner would likely be unfit for duty for at least 60 days upon his return to Confederate hands. There are no subsequent hospital or furlough records in J. D. CALAWAY’s CMSR. His name was included on the final Company B muster roll dated 10 APR 1865 at Appomattox Court House. However, his presence or absence was not noted and there is no mention of his being paroled at Appomattox Court House in this final muster roll.
If you have not already done so, the Society would appreciate receiving a brief biographical sketch of James Daniel CALLOWAY’s life. Looking for basic things such as dates and places of birth, marriage(s), and death and some commentary on what he did for a living before and after the war. Also, if you have a photo taken of him at anytime in his life, we would appreciate receiving a good quality digital scan so that we can add his likeness to our Photo Display Board and Photo Album.
I look forward to hearing back from you!
Hugh Simmons
Fort Delaware Society
Website: www.fortdelaware.org
E-mail: society@fortdelaware.org