1st Maryland Cavalry (CSA), Point Lookout Prison Camp Letters

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The following fifteen letters were written by Edward Aquila Howard Hall (1844-1917), Co. A, 1st Maryland Cavalry (CSA) to his mother, father, or his sister from June 30, 1864 to Feb. 16, 1865 while a prisoner of war at Point Lookout, Maryland. Hall was captured 27 May 1864 at Pollard's Farm, Virginia, and was not exchanged until 21 February 1865 at which time he promptly re-entered the Confederate service. He was taken prisoner again at Hanover Court House, Virginia on 13 March 1865. Confederate Letter Groups are scarce and scarcer still, prison letters. Here are some excerpts.(Point Lookout, June 30, 1864), to his sister, 1pp. In part "I would like very much to have a parole of about sixty days or so. I should think that some of you could get a permit to come and see me. ... Cary joined our company about a week before I was taken ...." (Point Lookout, July 1, 1864), to his father, 1pp. In part "I would love above all things to be home to attend to things for you & feel my services are required there, but I could not desert the Holy cause in which I am engaged. The time passes very slowly in here indeed ..." (Point Lookout, July 6, 1864) to his sister, 2pp. In part, "Tell Mrs Cary that Johnny joined my company and was well when I last saw him. I suppose that most of the servants have left by this time. Poor Colonel Brown was killed three days after I was taken. ..." (Point Lookout, August 6, 1864) to his sister, 1pp. In part, "I have been right sick for the last three days, but feel all right today. It goes pretty hard, I tell you, to be cooped up here with no exercise except the little I get by walking about the camp. I have been used to such exercise going night and day & now be compelled to waste away for much time in a place like this. But I think they will trade a few away like they did last winter even if they do not expect a regular exchange..."; (Point Lookout, August 18th, 1864) to his mother, 1pp. In part, "...You can send me a box as soon as it is convenient now as we are out of some vegetables & and a good shoulder or middling. If you have not sent the box yet, send a pair of no. 7.5 shoes as my old ones are worn out. I will have my photograph taken soon as I get money enough..."; (Point Lookout, August 26, 1864) to his mother, 1pp. In part, "...I suppose we will be exchanged some of these days. I heard that about 20 of my company were captured the other day including 2 lieutenants..." (Point Lookout, Nov. 21, 1864) to his mother, 1pp. In part, "...I sent a permit to you for some little articles & suppose you have received it ere this. I intend trying to get one for some diet from the Dr. as I have the scurvy. Otherwise my health is pretty good..."; (Point Lookout, Feb. 15, 18965) to his mother, 1 pp., In part "...I have been called out & expect to be paroled soon now, to go Spouth. May leave in a day or two. I will miss your letters very much. How I wish I could be with you but my duty calls me & I would be unworthy if I were to hesitate. I hope that there will soon be peace so that I can return to all those I love so dearly, but if it is God's will that I should fall I will die happy knowing that I have done my duty, but I trust that I may survive this war & be a comfort to you yet..."

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