Yeoman's in the Fork Blog

There was a constant exchange of money and goods between fellow prisoners during prison life. Foote is constantly making brief notes in his diary of borrowing or lending money to fellow comrades. “Gave Beegle a Due-Bill for $50, the amount of my indebtedness to him (Aug 23rd).”

Having to deal with the emotional news of the affliction and death of loved ones back home was even worse for most POWs.

The Confederates used Roper’s Hospital just during 1864 as a prison. There were some 200+ men confined there at its peak according to the best records available. The Library of Congress Civil War Desk Reference says there were no escapes at Roper’s and no deaths; however, Foote records a death on Sept 29th, “One of our officers (Lt. Stahl) died this morning” of bilious fever.

The Union prisoners learned of the capture of Mobile on August 9th, just the next day after the event occurred.

When Foote first arrived in Charleston in late July the men were eating well, bacon and beef. It didn’t take much more than a week for the food and rations to fall short of the need of feeding such a large prison population in the city jail.

Foote also articulated one of the greatest fears that every POW had in crowded prison conditions; the fear of a disease outbreak.

When Foote and his fellow POWs first arrived at the city jail his diary indicates they ate well, enjoying bacon and beef

The Federals from Morris Island shelled the city relentlessly the summer of 1864. It was no small concern for the Federal prisoners in the city jail. Foote mentions shells bursting nearby on several dates: August 2, 4, 5, 23, 30; Sept 2 and 17. He would turn 21 years old on September 16th while confined in Roper’s Hospital in Charleston.

From July 29th through October 5th 1864 Foote was in Charleston, South Carolina.

How about a little more on a book that we never tire of here in the hills of Tennessee...

On July 26th Foote records that he has heard he is to be leaving Oglethorpe soon. The next night Foote says that 300-400 officers were leaving the pen. They did so at 6 p.m. It was rainy.

Morris Cooper Foote reports as a prisoner in a Confederate prison camp.

As July began the weather began to turn much hotter in Macon. The Union prisoners made plans for the upcoming Fourth of July.

Mike snags another fantastic copy of his favorite Civil War related book.