The following material came from James Hebering’s article on “The Boys of Forest Hill,” Carolyn J. Mattern’s article, “Soldiers When They Go: The Story of Camp Randall, 1861-1865,” Larry J. Daniels book Island #10 or the newspaper articles from the Wisconsin Patriot or the Wisconsin Daily State Journal found on the Wisconsin Veterans Museum Website. We can use the following information to flesh out our confederate presentations.
The prisoners of Island #10 campaign, in part were shipped to Madison, Wisconsin where they were housed where Camp Randall football stadium now stands. In the 1860s, Camp Randal, named after the governor of the time, trained Wisconsin men for service and held 1,300 Confederate prisoners, of which 139 still reside in the earth of their captive state. The camp lasted three months and is largely forgotten except by a few historians. Doubtful that the red clad thousands that go to Camp Randall to see Badger football ever think about the prisoners who suffered so horribly on the same spot on which they have a beer and a bratwurst, unless they read this blog…
ISLAND #10 CAMPAIGN
“The regiment was armed with inferior weapons…one company did not even possess arms at all.”
“We surrendered at Tiptonville on Tuesday morning April 8th including a large number of sick. On that night happened one of the severest storms I ever witnessed. The sick were without adequate protection from the peltings and utterly without medicine.”
“On the night of March 8th, the prisoners were forced to huddle along the bank shivering in the rain. Some were thinly clad in butternut cloth attire and others in gray cloth of a light texture… in a beggarly dress ill protected from the keen wind.”
ARRIVING IN MADISON
“Most prisoners were friendly to the citizens of Madison”
“Their uniforms shown the hardship of war and each man heavily laden with baggage. Ragged as they were each man held his head up high s they stepped of the train (from Praire Du Chein).”
“No one can look upon those poor raged unwashed deluded wretches without a shuddering…”
“A mother with a son in the army spoke to her husband, ‘I don’t think any of them have any warm clothes. George go home and pick up everything you things they can use. I will find out other thinks they need’.”
“The prisoners passed between the file of soldiers with the band playing lively airs, contrasting with the Southerners apparent dejection. However when they neared the camp the band broke into “Dixie” and the pale faces and tired steps brightened.”
LIFE IN PRISON
Camp Randall was more wholesome, better water and dryer ground than Camp Douglas (Chicago), where some were previously housed.
“The men of the Washington Artillery, sat over a fire chatting of old times. They were organized in Memphis, Tennessee as a home guard and were marched to Island #10 without having been sworn into service of the Confederate Government. Under the circumstances they are in hopes of being released before long. “
“One group had cards in their hands and the players were looking anxiously for ‘Jack’.” Jack may be a reference to the importance of the Jack in Euchre, a popular game of the period.
Private George Paddock of the 19 Wisconsin, “ They dye off like rotten sheep. There was 11 dye off yesterday and today, and there aint a day but what there is from 2 to 10 dyes.”
Sampling of the deaths in Camp Randall
April 26th WM HAM. Co. F 1st Alabama
27th WM. O. Mathews Co. E 1st Alabama
28th Geo. Carr Co. F 1st Alabama
29th James Williamson Co. C 55th Tennessee
30th J.S. Pickney Co. C 55th Tennessee
139 Lie buried in Forest Hill
For the sick in hospital, “ a group of young girls carried fresh milk to them each day, along with fresh fruits and other needed supplies.”
“The hospital is in terribly bad condition. There are as many as 200 sick. Bed sacks camp cots sheets, pillow cases etch have been sent to camp… yet prisoners helplessly sick lying on the bare floor and many are dying I believe for want of proper care and attention.” J.A. Potter Assistant Quarter Master US Army.
“Many attribute (deaths) to neglect on the part of the medical staff and how they were transported North.”
Two prisoners attempted an escape with the help of guard Private Ames Carr of Company H 19th Wisconsin whom they paid. He accepted “15 dollars in good money and twenty dollars in script” for helping the two escape and promised to help 200 out on his next shift. Carr had been imprisoned at Waupun Penitentiary prior to his enlistment. For his effort Carr was arrested and was imprisoned in irons in a tent by himself under a special guard.”
Prisoners at Camp Randall were in the need of postage stamps. The guards collected $10 to purchase stamps for the prisoners who had families.
“Philanthropic officers hearing of the prisoners want of tobacco presented them with a barrel of it.”
“A few prisoners took the oath of Allegiance.”
“The men of the 55th Tennessee played ball”.
“One or two were reading light literature and we saw two prisoners in different reading groups reading a small print testament.”
The guards were put under stricter orders including having all guns loaded, prisoner roll taken three times a day,
On May 21st, G.W. Speaks of the 1st Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi Regiment was shot for verbally abusing a guard
From the court transcripts, guard’s testimony: A prisoner, “removed his pants and sat down apparently for the purpose of moving his bowels. I told him that place (restricted sink (latrine ditch)) was not to be used for that purpose and twice or three times ordered him away…I picked up a small stone and threw it at him hitting him on the side of the face. Six or seven rebels came running toward me… and one (his brother) said to me, ‘You Damn son of a bitchy I will report you.’ I had orders to shoot rebels insulting me and did shoot him” the guard was 17 years old.
As the days went the attitude of the prisoners seemed to change. They become from violent toward the guards and amongst themselves. “They fight like devils amongst themselves…(one) took a club and knocked him (another prisoner) down and killed him right on the spot.”
LEAVING MADISON
On September 7, 1862 the survivors were shipped downriver to Vicksburg for exchange. On September 21, they landed on the shore. “… the prisoners said goodbye to their guards and thanked them for the kind treatment, to which one guard responded, ‘ Now if you Johnnies ever capture us all, all we ask is that you treat us as well as we have you.”
Website with more information on the prison experience in Madison: http://www.censusdiggins.com/prison_camp_randall.html
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