CAMP HOFFMAN, POINT LOOKOUT MD: incoming cover to William J. Morris, Point Lookout Prison Camp, Company G, 7 Division Care of Major Brady, Meriland (sic); ms. up left side “Pri. Wm. J. Morris 56 Va Regt; mixed franking with CSA 11, 10¢ blue (gum staining), uncancelled as usual for money letters (carried by courier for security, did not enter mail system), on U10, 3¢ red Nesbitt entire, pencil endorsement at top "$2 -- Gold", no other postmarks, magenta notation indicating the prisoner was exchanged Feb. 18, 1865. SCARCE POW MONEY-LETTER illustrated in Antrim book. $450.

William J. Morris enlisted at Louisa, Va., as a private. He was mustered into Co F, Virginia 56th infantry, Army of Northern Virginia. He deserted February 14, 1863. He was arrested April 1, 1864, held at E.D.M. Prison (Eastern District Military Prison, Richmond, Va.) to be tried for desertion. He volunteered August 3, 1864, Winder’s Legion, Richmond, Va. He was pardoned August 15, 1864. He was taken prisoner August 24, 1864, at Howlett House, Va.; he was confined at Bermuda Hundred, Va., September 15, 1864; Confined at Point Lookout, Md, October 15, 1864. He took the oath of allegiance February 18, 1865, at Point Lookout. He was issued clothing at Castle Thunder Prison in Richmond on May 14, 1865, and was pardoned May 20, 1865. Castle Thunder was part of E.D.M. prison system. Quite the interesting war-time saga and doubtless has a great back story. Soldiers missing in action were often falsely accused of desertion and then pardoned. I suspect this may be the case with Morris.