Fort Warren Prisoners' Records, 1861-1862, MS. 1957

Fort Warren Prisoners' Records, 1861-1862

MS. 1957

Maryland Historical Society

Baltimore MD 21201-4674

Prisoners' record, Aug. 1861-Feb. 1862. Kept at Fort Warren, Mass. by the prisoners there. Entries written by individual prisoners and usually give name, rank or office, place of residence and arrest, etc. Often describe conditions and/or reasons for arrest, time of arrest, and places detained, and include some commentary. Some entries are just signatures, however.

Many entries are from prisoners arrested for political reasons without clear charges or due process of law. Such prisoners include: Geo. Wm. Brown (Mayor of Baltimore); Frank Key Howard (Editor Daily Exchange, Balt. Md.); Henry M. Warfield (Md. legislator); C[harles] S. Morehead (Gov. of Kentucky); Charles J. Faulkner (Congressman from Virginia and minister to France); J[ames] M[urray] Mason of Va., John Slidell of La., and George Eustice of La. (all three arrested from on board the British steamer “Trent” on the high seas). Entries frequently include some commentary on their arrests, absence of charges and due process, etc.

Marylanders represented (other than those listed above) include:

Wm. H. Gatchell--Police Commissioner, Balt. Md.

Charles Howard--Comm. of Police Balt. Md.

Severn Teackle Wallis--Member Md. House of Delegates

Wm. G. Harrison--House of Del, Md., Balt.

I.? Adamson? Thomas--House of Delegates, Md. Baltimore

Charles H. Pitts--late member of House of Delegates, Md.

Geo. Armistead Appleton--Baltimore, Md.

Laurence Sangston--Md. Legislator, Balt. Md.

Harkins Scott--Md. legislator, Balt. Md.

Entries also include those of soldiers from Va., Ga., Miss., and especially North Carolina (including several captured at Hatteras). One W.S.G. Andrews of N.C. describes his loyalty to his cause and the cause of his grandfathers, and his desire to fight again if free.

(SEE ALSO MS. 337)