2022-01 Raynors HCA Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/28/2022
An exceptional Prison document, Chicago Illinois, March 19, 1862, 2pp. on ledger sheet, 8-1/2" x 25", VG. The document consists of a letter followed by a detailed listing of the number of prisoners held divided by state. In part, "Copies of the Oath were freely circulated among the prisoners ... the requirement that each one who took it was expected to become henceforth a good Union citizen. ... Sixteen hundred and forty separate applications for Oath were presented. ... The prisoners of Tennessee appeared to be true and earnest in their desire to become loyal citizens ... The prisoners of Kentucky also recommended ... As the prisoners from Arkansas, Alabama, and Mississippi ... the Board would recommend that they be retained. ..." The listing shows the State, Unit and number of applications. Noted is "Forest's Regt of Cavalry 34. Camp Butler was located 5.5 miles east of Springfield, Illinois. It was a military instruction camp that was converted into a prison. The camp, named after William Butler (Illinois state treasurer), became a P.O.W. facility one day after Camp Douglas was established. The prison consisted of 3 separate compounds, totaling 40 acres, used for troop training. Nearby, a 15-acre site on the west side of the parade grounds was set aside to confine a portion of the 2,000 prisoners from the battles at Fort Henry and Fort Donelson. Two months later, a group of over 1,000 prisoners arrived after the battle of Island No. 10. They were housed in tents due to the prisoner barracks being full already.
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