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.