Items for Sale - Prisoner of War & Civilian Flag of Truce - Section One - Item#19901
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Item# 19901

SALISBURY PRISON N.C. July 24th 1862” headed prisoner-of-war lettter signed by Art[hur] T. Wilcox saying, in part, that “Our surgeons & chaplains are under orders for home & expect to start tonight for City Point. By one of them I send a line. We are told that a general exchange has been arranged & that as soon as transportation can be procured we are all to be sent home. The prospect would be fair if it were not for the remembrance of our past experience. As we shall probably be among the last sent, it will be something strangely fortunate if nothing intervenes to break the matter off before our turn comes, expending the final result as shall of course be somewhat anxious. At any rate we cannot start before sometime next week & perhaps not for two weeks or more.“  No cover accompanies but military records do. Wilcox enlisted at age 26 on 4-23-61 as a 2nd Lieut. in Co. E. 7th Ohio Infantry. He was subsequently transferred to the 177th Ohio Infantry as full colonel. He was taken prisoner at Cross Lanes, West Virginia on 8-26-61 and finally exchanged at Aiken’s Landing, Va on 9-21-62, so his concerns about release were obviously well founded. He was mustered out 6/24/1865 at Greensboro, NC. Arthur Tappan Wilcox contracted yellow fever while working as a civil engineer on bridges in Central America. He died of the disease at Port Limon, Costa Rica, on October 24, 1902. Detailed period bio and photos included. Wonderful scarce prisoner of war letter. Ex Benson. $600.

Price: $600