Re: John Coleman - WV Civil War hostage
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In reply to:
Re: John Coleman - WV Civil War hostage
jack l coleman 11/16/12
I have lots more information on this incident, if you think this is your guy.Enclosed is the newspaper description of the prisoners arriving in Richmond, and Federal correspondence showing he was still a prisoner seven months later.
From the Richmond Examiner, 5/11/1863
PRISONERS FROM WESTERN VIRGINIA. - Lieutenant Chapman, of company I, Maryland battalion cavalry, and a detachment of men, arrived in Richmond on Saturday, with fifty-six prisoners from Western Virginia and the Valley, some of the fruits of General Jones' raid, on the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, and in which the battalion took an active part. The following citizens of Western Virginia among the prisoners were lodged in Castle Thunder:
P. M. Jeffries, Wetzel county; Duchett Gatrell, Wester Virginia; J. H. Crone, William White and John Coleman, Ritchie county; Henry Parker, Parkersburg; William D. Seasel, Taylor county; John Rooney, Patterson county; H. C. Garry, Harrison county; Thomas D. Armstrong, Doddridge county; Thomas Hill, Bridgeport; William Brown, Preston county; Patrick Croughan; Ritchie county; George Snyder, (boy) Pendleton county. It is presumed they are to be held as hostages.
Office Commissioner for Exchange,
Fortress Monroe, Va., January 12, 1864.
Sir: Be so kind as to communicate to me any knowledge you may have concerning a prisoner in your hands named John M. Coleman. He was taken
about the 28th day of April, 1863.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
BENJAMIN F. BUTLER,
Major General and Commissioner for Exchange.
Hon. Robert Ould,
Confederate Agent for Exchange, Richmond, Va.