CONFEDERATE LETTER & COVER PRISONER OF WAR CAMP CHASE

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LETTER FROM A CONFEDERATE PRISONER OF WAR AT CAMP CHASE, OHIO PRISON. T.L. LEWIS 55TH. ALABAMA TO HIS WIFE. WITH COVER, WITH BEAUTIFUL CAMP CHASE CANCELLATION. Cover bears 3 cent Washington Stamp, with bulls eye cancellation. Postmark of Columbus, Ohio, May 2nd. ALSO Very Fine Circular Stamp of 'CAMP CHASE'. Addressed to Mrs. E. C. Lewis, Care of J.H. Weaver, Huntsville, Alabama. One Page Letter, in Ink. (Prisoners were only allowed one page letters---which makes it excellent for framing.)"Camp Chase, Ohio. April 30th, 1865.My dear and loving wife, it is with pleasure that I seat myself this morning to write you a few lines, to let you know that I am well and I hope when this comes to hand it will find you well and doing well. Dear, t is no news that will interest you, though I hope it will not be long until I will get to come home, and I pray how soon dear, t is nothing that would give me more pleasure than to come home and enjoy your company. Dear, I want you to pray for me that I get home again. I think the war is very near over, from the news we get, so I think it will not be long until I can come home and stay with the my family in peace. Dear, tell all of my friends to pray for me that I may live as a Christian should. Dear, t is not a day nor a night passes but that I pray for you, and I feel confident that you do the same. Tell all to write to me. Tell the children howdy and kiss them for me. I must close. Write soon. (Signed) T.L. Lewis."CAMP CHASE, built on the western outskirts of Columbus, Ohio, was named for Secretary of the Treasury and former Ohio governor Salmon P. Chase. Until November of 1861, it was a training camp for Union volunteers, and housed a few political and military prisoners from Kentucky and western Virginia. The camp received it first large unflux of captured Confederates from the western campaigns. This included enlisted men, officers, and a few of the officer's black body servants. After giving their Oath of Honor, some of the Confederate officers were allowed to visit Columbus, register in hotels, and receive gifts of money and food. Camp tours were a popular public excursion, with civilians paying for the privilege of viewing the prisoners. Complaints over such a lax atmosp at the prison spurred a state investigation, and the situation changed. Poor quality food supplies resulted in the commissary officer's dismissal. The Camp's state volunteers and the Camp commander were found to have 'scant acquaintance' with military practices and were transferred. The Camp then passed into Federal government control. Under the new administration rules were tightened, visitors prohibited and the mail censored. Prisoners were allowed limited amounts of money to supplement supplies and could purchase from approved vendors and sutlers. As the War wore on, conditions deteriorated. The barracks were shoddy and located on low muddy ground. T were open cisterns and open latrines. A smallpox outbreak in the winter of 1863-1864 alarmed agents of the U.S. Sanitary Commission, who had long been demanding reform. The facilities, built for housing 3,000-4,000 men, were jammed with close to 7,000 prisoners. Some of the guards proved to be corrupt and cruel, further aggravating the conditions. Some sewage modifications were made as the War drew to a close, and prisoners were put to work improving the barracks and building stronger fences to contain themselves. Although some improvements were made, the barracks enlarged to hold 7,000 soon overflowed with nearly 10,000 men. Crowding and health conditions were never resolved by the end of the War.The nearby Camp Chase Cemetery holds the remains of 2,260 men, all but 31 died at the Camp.Rather sad letter from a longtime P.O.W. Would frame up beautifully, being a single page. Great CDS of Camp Chase.Pa. residents, please include 6% tax. $7.50 shipping/insurance on items. Large, expensive items will require more due to packing/shipping/insurance considerations. See our other fine items on eBay! Visi... read more

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