Journey of the Captives

Friday, January 31, 1862

After arriving at Washington on Tuesday morning, Charles Peirson had a full schedule of interviews with army leaders and government officials for the entire week. He scheduled an appointment on Wednesday morning at 10 o'clock to speak with General George McClellan and waited until 4 o'clock in the afternoon to meet with him. He spoke with Secretary of War Edwin Stanton and General Charles Stone at General McClellan’s office. He wrote letters to Governor John Andrew in Massachusetts, and to Major Paul Revere and Doctor Edward Revere in Richmond. On Friday he met again with General McClellan and was warmly received.¹

References:
¹Charles Lawrence Peirson, "Memorandum of the Battle of Leesburg," Association of Officers of the Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment, Reports, Letters and Papers Appertaining to Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, vol. 1, p. 137-38, Twentieth Massachusetts Special Collection, Boston Public Library, Boston, Massachusetts.

Journey of the Captives

Monday, January 27, 1862

Charles Peirson left Ligon Prison at 5:00 AM and reached Norfolk before noon, where he reported to Confederate General Benjamin Huger, Commander of Norfolk, before embarking on the ship William Seldon. In the evening he had a disappointing meeting with Union General John Wool, Commander of Fort Monroe, who gave him no encouragement for the release of his comrades in prison. Later in the evening he left for Baltimore. During the trip he met Mr. Sheldon of New York, bearer of dispatches from General Burnside and shared a stateroom with Mr. DeFord of Baltimore, who had just departed from Richmond.¹

References:
¹Charles Lawrence Peirson, "Memorandum of the Battle of Leesburg," Association of Officers of the Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment, Reports, Letters and Papers Appertaining to Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, vol. 1, p. 137, Twentieth Massachusetts Special Collection, Boston Public Library, Boston, Massachusetts.

Journey of the Captives

Sunday, January 26, 1862

Charles Peirson received the long-awaited news of his release from prison on parole on the condition that he would not take part in any military actions until he was exchanged. His release order read:

Permission is granted C.L. Peirson to visit Norfolk upon honor not to communicate in writing or verbally for publication any facts ascertained, which if known to the enemy might be injurious to the C.S.A.

Signed for the Secretary of War.

He was optimistic about his plans for improving the fate of his fellow prisoners and for improving the conditions of the hostages as promised to the provost marshal General Jonathan Winder on January 14. Before his release he visited the hostages in jail and met with General Winder, who assured him that the hostages would be treated as prisoners of war and subject to hanging if the status of the Confederate privateers was changed to prisoners of war.¹

References:
¹Charles Lawrence Peirson, "Memorandum of the Battle of Leesburg," Association of Officers of the Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment, Reports, Letters and Papers Appertaining to Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, vol. 1, p. 136-37, Twentieth Massachusetts Special Collection, Boston Public Library, Boston, Massachusetts.

Journey of the Captives

Wednesday, January 22, 1862

As he marked the third month of his captivity, Charles Peirson faced disappointment. On Monday Dr. Edward Revere's parole had been rescinded. In order to affect some relief for the jailed hostages Peirson sent a letter to Provost Martial Jonathan Winder requesting a substitution of seven officers for the hostages, including himself and Lieutenant George Perry of the Twentieth Massachusetts.¹

References:
¹Charles Lawrence Peirson, "Memorandum of the Battle of Leesburg," Association of Officers of the Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment, Reports, Letters and Papers Appertaining to Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, vol. 1, p. 135, Twentieth Massachusetts Special Collection, Boston Public Library, Boston, Massachusetts.

Author's Note - The Fate of Private Amos Partridge

Records from the Twentieth Massachusetts Regimental History and from Adjutant Charles Peirson's journal reveal a contradiction in the fate of Private Amos Partridge of Company D. In the Regimental History the casualty list from Ball's Bluff reports that Private Partridge died in prison on January 16, 1862, while the roster in the Appendix states that Private Partridge died of his wounds in November 1861.¹ Charles Peirson's journal clearly states that Private Partridge was captured at Ball's Bluff and imprisoned at Ligon Prison with other soldiers from the Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment. Partridge contracted typhoid fever during his imprisonment and died in Ligon Prison, Richmond, Virginia on January 16, 1862.²


References:
¹George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 60, 472.
²Charles Lawrence Peirson, "Memorandum of the Battle of Leesburg," Association of Officers of the Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment, Reports, Letters and Papers Appertaining to Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, vol. 1, p. 103, 123, 129, Twentieth Massachusetts Special Collection, Boston Public Library, Boston, Massachusetts.

Journey of the Captives

Friday, January 17, 1862

Charles Peirson rejoiced in the release of one hundred and sixty wounded men from prison today. On a more disturbing note, disease continued to ravage Ligon Prison and exact a human toll on the Twentieth Massachusetts. Private Amos Partridge of Company D died from typhoid fever on Thursday.¹

References:
¹Charles Lawrence Peirson, "Memorandum of the Battle of Leesburg," Association of Officers of the Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment, Reports, Letters and Papers Appertaining to Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, vol. 1, p. 134-35, Twentieth Massachusetts Special Collection, Boston Public Library, Boston, Massachusetts.

Journey of the Captives

Tuesday, January 14, 1862

Charles Peirson received an interview with Provost Marshal General Jonathan Winder and obtained the unwelcome news that the Confederate government refused his exchange. Peirson expressed to General Winder that he believed he could affect better treatment for the Confederate privateers if he were sent north by the Confederate government with assurances of their reciprocation. General Winder suggested that Peirson apply directly in writing to Secretary of War Judah Benjamin and additionally informed Peirson that the Twentieth Massachusetts prisoners would not be transferred to Salisbury with Major Gibbs. General Winder also offered to forward a request to Lieutenant Colonel Walter Jenifer, Cavalry commander at Ball's Bluff, for the return of William Putnam's sword.

General Winder gave Peirson a pass into the jail to visit Colonel William Lee and Major Paul Revere. His heart sank when he saw the squalid conditions of their confinement. Peirson observed that " .. no prison in New England is so miserable and uncomfortable, and I believe no seven imprisoned men in the North are so illy cared for as these ..."¹

References:
¹Charles Lawrence Peirson, "Memorandum of the Battle of Leesburg," Association of Officers of the Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment, Reports, Letters and Papers Appertaining to Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, vol. 1, p. 133-34, Twentieth Massachusetts Special Collection, Boston Public Library, Boston, Massachusetts.

Journey of the Captives

Monday, January 13, 1862

In Ligon Prison Charles Peirson had received no additional news about his release. He heard that the Commandant of Richmond, Captain George Gibbs, had been promoted to Major and transferred to Salisbury, North Carolina to take control of the prisons, and that the Ligon prisoners would follow him there. Peirson wrote to Provost Marshal General Jonathan Winder to request an interview.¹

References:
¹Charles Lawrence Peirson, "Memorandum of the Battle of Leesburg," Association of Officers of the Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment, Reports, Letters and Papers Appertaining to Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, vol. 1, p. 132-33, Twentieth Massachusetts Special Collection, Boston Public Library, Boston, Massachusetts.

Journey of the Captives

Thursday, January 9, 1862

In Ligon Prison Charles Peirson received the first tangible news of a possible release. Captain George Gibbs, Commandant of Richmond, offered to parole Charles Peirson north for thirty days to facilitate an exchange for a Confederate soldier imprisoned in Fort Warren. This plan required approval of the Confederate government before taking effect.¹

References:
¹Charles Lawrence Peirson, "Memorandum of the Battle of Leesburg," Association of Officers of the Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment, Reports, Letters and Papers Appertaining to Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, vol. 1, p. 130-31, Twentieth Massachusetts Special Collection, Boston Public Library, Boston, Massachusetts.

Journey of the Captives

Wednesday, January 8, 1862

In Ligon Prison Charles Peirson received additional good news in the report that sick and wounded prisoners would be sent home on January 10. Peirson noted that the Confederates were anxious to make exchanges and needed the prison buildings for other purposes.¹

References:
¹Charles Lawrence Peirson, "Memorandum of the Battle of Leesburg," Association of Officers of the Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment, Reports, Letters and Papers Appertaining to Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, vol. 1, p. 130, Twentieth Massachusetts Special Collection, Boston Public Library, Boston, Massachusetts.

Letters from the Front - Henry Patten

Friday, January 3, 1862

Second Lieutentant Henry Patten of Company E, newly recruited in November, wrote to his father about his experiences at Camp Benton. He reported, "Our day is spent in drilling and superintending our men. There are a thousand and one things to attend to which would be tedious to enumerate. At night we talk ‘round our fireplaces, where blazes Maryland oak in abundance, or read or write ... Our Regiment does its share of picket duty on the river – a duty which has its hardships and danger, but our ordinary camp life has little of either. The men live well, are well and handsomely clothed in army blue, and suffer less from the cold than they would at home." Patten remarked that army life agreed with him and that he was in perfect health. He concluded with, "We know not when we shall march. Write often."¹

References:
¹Henry Patten, "Letters," Association of Officers of the Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment, Reports, Letters and Papers Appertaining to Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, vol. 2, p. 195-98, Twentieth Massachusetts Special Collection, Boston Public Library, Boston, Massachusetts.

Author's Note - The Fate of Sergeant Emery Mellen

Records from the Twentieth Massachusetts Regimental History and from Adjutant Charles Peirson's journal reveal a contradiction in the fate of Sergeant Emery Mellen of Company G at Ball's Bluff. In the Regimental History the casualty list from Ball's Bluff reports that Sergeant Mellen was captured, while the roster in the Appendix states that Sergeant Mellen drowned in the Potomac River on October 21, 1861.¹ Charles Peirson's journal clearly states that Sergeant Mellen was captured at Ball's Bluff and imprisoned at Ligon Prison with other soldiers from the Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment. Mellen contracted consumption during his imprisonment and was released from prison on January 3, 1862.²


References:
¹George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 60-61, 486.
²Diary of Charles Lawrence Peirson, "Memorandum of the Battle of Leesburg," Association of Officers of the Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment, Reports, Letters and Papers Appertaining to Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, vol. 1, p. 103, 123, 129, Twentieth Massachusetts Special Collection, Boston Public Library, Boston, Massachusetts.

Journey of the Captives

Friday, January 3, 1862

The prisoners of the Twentieth Regiment had reason to hope today from the news of the release of two hundred and forty prisoners, most of whom had been captured at Manassas. One of those released was Sergeant Emery A. Mellen of Company G of the Twentieth Massachusetts, who had been suffering from consumption during his imprisonment.¹

References:
¹Charles Lawrence Peirson, "Memorandum of the Battle of Leesburg," Association of Officers of the Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment, Reports, Letters and Papers Appertaining to Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, vol. 1, p. 129, Twentieth Massachusetts Special Collection, Boston Public Library, Boston, Massachusetts.

Journey of the Captives - New Year's Day

Wednesday, January 1, 1862

In Ligon Prison Charles Peirson reflected on the passing of the year 1861, noting that it was arguably the most momentous year in our nation's history. He remained optimistic about the arrival of the new year and that it would herald changes for the good, including peace for the nation and release from prison. He observed that his experience in prison " ... deprived us of experience, rank, and opportunity which others, who were more fortunate, enjoy. But we are in strong hope that another month or at least two will end this imprisonment ..."¹

References:
¹Charles Lawrence Peirson, "Memorandum of the Battle of Leesburg," Association of Officers of the Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment, Reports, Letters and Papers Appertaining to Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, vol. 1, p. 127-8, Twentieth Massachusetts Special Collection, Boston Public Library, Boston, Massachusetts.