The Duration of Prisoner Exchanges During the American Civil War

The American Civil War, a conflict marked by many tragic twists and turns, saw the fluidity and eventual cessation of prisoner exchanges. One particularly harrowing example is the loss of the Sultana, a steamboat overloaded with released Union prisoners of war. This disaster, along with the Sultana incident, remains the worst maritime tragedy in U.S. history, highlighting the dire consequences of poor repairs to ships intended to transport repatriated prisoners.

The Complexity of Prisoner Exchanges

Prisoner exchanges during the Civil War were anything but straightforward. These exchanges were sporadic and ceased when Abraham Lincoln concluded that prisoner exchanges were not beneficial to the Union. This conclusion was driven by the Union's increasing reliance on black soldiers. By 1863, the Union had begun to integrate black soldiers into their ranks, a move that conflicted with Confederate policies. The Confederacy refused to treat black and white soldiers equally, leading to a significant drop in prisoner exchanges.

A Tragic Incident and Its Consequences

The steamboat Sultana, intended to carry 376 passengers, was unnecessarily overfilled with 2155 released Union prisoners. On April 27, 1865, just two weeks after the end of the war, the Sultana exploded, resulting in the loss of between 1,000 and 1,500 lives. The explosion was caused by a rush job repair to the boiler, a fix hastily conducted to collect the bounty for transporting repatriated POWs. The disaster, alongside other incidents, underscored the chaos and hurried nature of prisoner exchanges during the war.

Andersonville Prison and Its Impact

Andersonville, the notorious Confederate prison camp, was a stark example of the consequences of the cessation of prisoner exchanges. The camp, which became overcrowded, saw a horrific scarcity of proper sustenance and medical care. Prisoners in Andersonville faced unimaginable conditions, often referred to as a “hell hole”, making survival a difficult task. The camp is remembered for its brutal conditions and the countless lives lost within its walls.

Early Exchanges and Their Decline

In the early stages of the Civil War, prisoner exchanges often occurred in the field on an ad hoc basis between the commanding generals of both sides. However, the Union was hesitant to enter into formal agreements, as it would have given legitimacy to the Confederate government. An informal agreement in 1861 led to prisoners being released on parole and returned to their respective sides within weeks. This system worked for Northern soldiers, but as the war progressed, it broke down. The Union’s enlistment of black soldiers prompted the Confederacy to refuse parole for black soldiers, leading to a complete cessation of prisoner exchanges from 1862 to 1865.

Fudged Exchanges and Continued Detentions

While formal prisoner exchanges became rare, unofficial exchanges and paroles continued to some extent but clandestinely. This clandestine system sustained for the duration of the war, with prisoners being exchanged and paroled out of necessity but often without official records or agreements. However, as the war dragged on, the informal system could not keep pace with the growing number of prisoners, leading to the disastrous conditions in prisons like Andersonville.

The cessation of prisoner exchanges and the subsequent overcrowding and mistreatment of Confederate prisoners, most notably in Andersonville, are somber reminders of the rigid policies and the human cost of the American Civil War. These exchanges were not just formalities; they were lifelines for thousands of soldiers who otherwise would have faced unimaginable circumstances.