A parole camp was a place during the American Civil War in which Union or Confederate soldiers on parole could be kept by their own side, in a non-combat role. They could be restored to a combat role if some prisoners of war were traded to the other side. That would enable them to be returned to a combat role as an exchange for the newly-freed prisoners of war. Conditions in the camps were unpleasant; the parolees refused to do guard duty or routine work and claimed that would violate their parole. Many escaped to go home.[1]
An honor system was set up in which each side would take care of housing its own soldiers who had been designated as being on parole. That meant they would not fight in combat unless they were formally exchanged. The Confederates did not set up parole camps but let their men go home and expected them to return to duty once they had been officially exchanged. Parole camps were set up by the Union Army for its own soldiers who had been captured by the Confederacy and then released on the condition that they would honor the terms and conditions of their parole.[2]
In 1862, a parole camp was established in Annapolis, Maryland, on the grounds of St. John's College,[3] However, since the camp soon ran out of space, two more were soon built in the local area. One was located in nearby Parole, Maryland, which is how the town got its name.[3][4] The resulting influx of soldiers changed the nature of the town since the soldiers were free to visit the local area as much as they might wish.[5] Many soldiers disliked the camp and described it as dirty in their letters home. There were some occasional problems with disorderly conduct by some of the soldiers who were sent there.[5]
There was a short-lived parole camp in West Chester, Pennsylvania, known as Camp Elder.[6] One paroled soldier, Warren H. Freeman, wrote to his father and said that the parolees in the camp were being guarded by inexperienced members of the Pennsylvania militia, all of whom were fairly lenient in their guard duties, presumably because they were guarding members of their own army.[7][8]
^Roger Pickenpaugh, Captives in Blue: The Civil War Prisons of the Confederacy (2013) pp 57-73
^On the Edge of Discovery: Civil War POWs near West Chester?!, Chester County Historical Society website, accessed 4/8/13.
^ ab(PDF). United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-09-11. Retrieved 2008-06-28. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
^Fuchs, Tom (October 9, 2007). "Camp Parole". Historical Marker Database.
^ abAuthor recounts Camp Parole history on 150th anniversary Archived 2013-06-28 at archive.today, capitalgazette.com, August 10, 2012.
^Goshorn, Robert M. (April 1963). "Chester County and the Civil War". History Quarterly. 12 (3): 46–58.
^The American Civil War: 365 Days, from the Library of Congress, by Margaret Wagner, entry for October 6th, Harry Abrams Inc., 2006. Listing for book at loc.gov.
^Letter from Freeman, Civil War Voices: Soldier Studies. accessed 4/7/13.
Further readingedit
Pickenpaugh, Roger. Captives in Blue: The Civil War Prisons of the Confederacy (2013) excerpt and text search ch 4 pp 57-73 covers US Army parole camps in the North
Parole of Civil War Prisoners, civil war.com
Camp Parole, Annapolis, Maryland, pa-roots.com.
The American Civil War: 365 Days, from the Library of Congress, by Margaret Wagner, entry for October 6, Harry Abrams Inc., 2006. Listing for book at loc.gov.
Subject: NARA US Army Continental Commands, 1821-1920, From: Steven J. Coker (coker@geocities.com), Date: April 10, 1999. lists all parole camps.
On the Edge of Discovery: Civil War POWs near West Chester?!, Chester County Historical Society website, accessed 4/8/13.
Author recounts Camp Parole history on 150th anniversary, capitalgazette.com, August 10, 2012.
Researcher delves into how Annapolis' Parole area got its name. Book details history of camp for former Civil War prisoners returned to Union army. By Mary Gail Hare, The Baltimore Sun, July 26, 2012.
Pennsylvania / Historical Marker of Camp Elder
April 18, 2024
parole, camp, parole, camp, place, during, american, civil, which, union, confederate, soldiers, parole, could, kept, their, side, combat, role, they, could, restored, combat, role, some, prisoners, were, traded, other, side, that, would, enable, them, returne. A parole camp was a place during the American Civil War in which Union or Confederate soldiers on parole could be kept by their own side in a non combat role They could be restored to a combat role if some prisoners of war were traded to the other side That would enable them to be returned to a combat role as an exchange for the newly freed prisoners of war Conditions in the camps were unpleasant the parolees refused to do guard duty or routine work and claimed that would violate their parole Many escaped to go home 1 The first Union Army parole camp for exchanged Northern prisoners of war was opened in Annapolis Maryland in 1862 An honor system was set up in which each side would take care of housing its own soldiers who had been designated as being on parole That meant they would not fight in combat unless they were formally exchanged The Confederates did not set up parole camps but let their men go home and expected them to return to duty once they had been officially exchanged Parole camps were set up by the Union Army for its own soldiers who had been captured by the Confederacy and then released on the condition that they would honor the terms and conditions of their parole 2 In 1862 a parole camp was established in Annapolis Maryland on the grounds of St John s College 3 However since the camp soon ran out of space two more were soon built in the local area One was located in nearby Parole Maryland which is how the town got its name 3 4 The resulting influx of soldiers changed the nature of the town since the soldiers were free to visit the local area as much as they might wish 5 Many soldiers disliked the camp and described it as dirty in their letters home There were some occasional problems with disorderly conduct by some of the soldiers who were sent there 5 There was a short lived parole camp in West Chester Pennsylvania known as Camp Elder 6 One paroled soldier Warren H Freeman wrote to his father and said that the parolees in the camp were being guarded by inexperienced members of the Pennsylvania militia all of whom were fairly lenient in their guard duties presumably because they were guarding members of their own army 7 8 See also editDix Hill Cartel Parole Prisoner of war campFootnotes edit Roger Pickenpaugh Captives in Blue The Civil War Prisons of the Confederacy 2013 pp 57 73 On the Edge of Discovery Civil War POWs near West Chester Chester County Historical Society website accessed 4 8 13 a b Annapolis National Cemetery PDF United States Department of Veterans Affairs Archived from the original PDF on 2008 09 11 Retrieved 2008 06 28 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help Fuchs Tom October 9 2007 Camp Parole Historical Marker Database a b Author recounts Camp Parole history on 150th anniversary Archived 2013 06 28 at archive today capitalgazette com August 10 2012 Goshorn Robert M April 1963 Chester County and the Civil War History Quarterly 12 3 46 58 The American Civil War 365 Days from the Library of Congress by Margaret Wagner entry for October 6th Harry Abrams Inc 2006 Listing for book at loc gov Letter from Freeman Civil War Voices Soldier Studies accessed 4 7 13 Further reading editPickenpaugh Roger Captives in Blue The Civil War Prisons of the Confederacy 2013 excerpt and text search ch 4 pp 57 73 covers US Army parole camps in the North Parole of Civil War Prisoners civil war com Camp Parole Annapolis Maryland pa roots com The American Civil War 365 Days from the Library of Congress by Margaret Wagner entry for October 6 Harry Abrams Inc 2006 Listing for book at loc gov Subject NARA US Army Continental Commands 1821 1920 From Steven J Coker coker geocities com Date April 10 1999 lists all parole camps On the Edge of Discovery Civil War POWs near West Chester Chester County Historical Society website accessed 4 8 13 Author recounts Camp Parole history on 150th anniversary capitalgazette com August 10 2012 Researcher delves into how Annapolis Parole area got its name Book details history of camp for former Civil War prisoners returned to Union army By Mary Gail Hare The Baltimore Sun July 26 2012 Pennsylvania Historical Marker of Camp Elder Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Parole camp amp oldid 1162938134 History, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
