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Epic Tales of Civil War Survival: Captured Freedom

On a brutally cold winter morning 160 years ago today, this photograph was taken by Theodore M. Schleier in Knoxville, Tennessee. It was a photograph that Captured Freedom. Captured Freedom is a little told story about prisoners during the Civil War. Nine Union prisoners of war and their North Carolina mountain guides had arrived the day before after they made it to freedom over Union lines. The long slog, often through snow and freezing temperatures had taken some of them… Read More »Epic Tales of Civil War Survival: Captured Freedom

Bassett, Hoffman, Page and Marshall all participated in the siege of Vicksburg

Vicksburg – July 4, 1863

The end of the siege of Vicksburg. Lieutenant Mark M. Bassett, Company E, 53rd Illinois, wouldn’t consider the irony of his situation until over a year later. “The negotiations were going on slowly. During the 2d and 3d of July we would get up on the works three or four times a day when the white flags were up and visit,” scribbled Private Ranstead of Company D, 53rd Illinois in his diary.  The men in blue and the men and… Read More »Vicksburg – July 4, 1863

Henry Fowler; 15th New Jersey

Memorial Day

How our country observes Memorial Day has an interesting connection to the Union POWs who posed for “the photograph’ in Knoxville in 1865. Lieutenant Henry Fowler of the 15th New Jersey was just 17-years-old when he was seriously wounded in the knee and captured at the Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse on May 12, 1864. An overzealous Confederate surgeon wanted to amputate his leg. Fowler pleaded with the man as a chloroform rag was placed across his mouth and nose. When… Read More »Memorial Day

Chicago Confusion Mystery

The Library of Congress (LOC) offered an interesting clue. There was a Chicago confusion mystery. The Chicago History Museum (CHM) had identified the photograph as member’s of Morgan’s Raiders at Camp Douglas. How did this happen? Copy of the image held by the Chicago History Museum. Mounted on a backing cardboard. There is a hole at the top that appears to have come from a thumbtack Photo by Ray Johnson I found the photograph with the “Morgan’s Raiders at Camp… Read More »Chicago Confusion Mystery

Captured Freedom - Book Details Epic Civil War POW Escape

Identifying the soldiers

Identifying the soldiers was the first step to revealing the epic Civil War escape story. It wasn’t clear cut, and would require some sleuthing.So who were the 12 men in the photograph? Front of Library of Congress copy of “The Photograph” (Click to enlarge) When my North Georgia mountain neighbor shared the photograph with me. He told me the name of his cousin, the man in the far left middle row. David Ledford. Additionally, he told me that the back… Read More »Identifying the soldiers

Identities Were Confused

Identities were confused almost immediately. T. M. Schleier took the photograph in the event that Captured Freedom on Tuesday, January 2, 1865. The former escapees and their mountain guides left Knoxville the next day. They all heading home, some to never see each other ever again. Photograph of nine Union officers and three mountain guidestaken in Knoxville, Tennessee on January 2, 1865. Escapees identities first confused shortly after the end of the Civil War In Spring 1866 noted historian Benson… Read More »Identities Were Confused