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Olmstead, Charles H., 1837-1926 to Edwin M. Stanton

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00319.01 Author/Creator: Olmstead, Charles H., 1837-1926 Place Written: Fort Columbus, New York Type: Autograph letter signed Date: June 10, 1862 Pagination: 2 p. : Height: 25 cm, Width: 20 cm Order a Copy

Olmstead, a Confederate officer who surrendered Fort Pulaski and was taken as a prisoner of war at Fort Columbus, writes to Union Secretary of War Stanton. Olmstead is concerned that the Union is violating the prisoner of war terms signed by General Quincy A. Gillmore and himself at the surrender. The surrender terms stated that the Confederate sick and wounded should be sent up to the Confederate lines. Olmstead has found out that instead of these sick and wounded men being allowed to return home, they were kept and arrangements were made for them to be exchanged for Federal prisoners in Confederate General Alexander Lawton's control. Olmstead informs that he wrote to Gilmore who assured him that the prisoners were only kept because of the dangerous condition of the wounded. But Olmstead then received a letter from a prisoner of war he supposed was already at home, but was really still in captivity. Olmstead requests assistance from Stanton in procuring justice for these men. Olmstead signs as Col. 1st Vol. Reg. of CSA, Prisoner of War.

Olmstead, Charles Hart, 1837-1926
Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869
Gillmore, Quincy Adams, 1825-1888
Lawton, Alexander Robert, 1818-1896

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