Point Lookout was not only a prison camp in itself but was also used as a collection/gathering point for those selected for exchange. If one was tagged for exchange and was at Elmira, Ft. Delaware or a couple others they would be first transported to Point Lookout. There they would be boarded on US Army transports for their trip south. Aikens Landing was the primary Eastern Theater exchange point on the southern side for a good bit of the war. Then it was switched to Venus Point near Savannah Ga.

City Point (now known as Hopewell) was as at that time Federal held turf, It being the supply point for the Army of the Potomac engaged around Petersburg. Confederate prisoners captured around Petersburg out bound were usually taken first to City Point, then transported to Ft. Monroe. There they would be hauled via transports to Point Lookout, kept there or forwarded to other prison camps. Returning route was usually different.

The normal prisoner exchange cartel for the most part had nearly ceased in 1864. However there were smaller special exchanges that were still occurring between Pt. Lookout and Venus Point. Federal authorities purposely only selected confederate prisoners that were diseased, seriously sick and/or maimed/disabled. Hence less likely those they were exchanging would/could be returned to the ranks anytime soon or most likely not at all. If your character was being exchanged at that time frame of the war it would be under one of the special exchanges, and probably be in rather rough shape and feeble to be included in one of these. Many would die while enroute on the crowded transports and simply tossed overboard. Federal prisoners from Andersonville, Salisbury and several others were likewise transported to Venus Point and exchanged for the Confederate prisoners, loaded onto the same transports for the return trip back to Point Lookout.... The Federals nearby had what they called "Camp Parole" which contained paroled Federals awaiting exchange.

The prisoner swap was in two stages.., first they were "Paroled".... then "Exchanged"... They might have been released on the parole, but not allowed to rejoin their unit till they were properly exchanged... Once arrived back on friendly soil most required extensive medical care. Hospitals and convalescent camps for these were common. When well enough they were returned to duty with their respective regiments. If deemed disabled or completely unfit for further duty, discharged and sent home. If recovery would require a significant amount of time over 30 days or more, they commonly were furloughed and allowed to return home to recover. Prisoners were exchanged one for one of persons of same rank. Officers also had a point value, A Captain or Colonel had an exchange value of a given number of privates etc. If one of same rank was not available.

End of war released prisoners were normally transported to designated drop off points south. They made their own way the rest of the trip home on their own.

Frederick