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

More from Kraig McNutt about Morris Cooper Foote, the Civil War's Forrest Gump!

More from Kraig McNutt about Morris Cooper Foote, the Civil War's Forrest Gump!

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

Another great blog about the 'Forrest Gump' of the Civil War!

More from Kraig McNutt's research into the 'Forrest Gump' of the Civil War.

More from Kraig McNutt's research into the 'Forrest Gump' of the Civil War.

More from Kraig McNutt's research into the 'Forrest Gump' of the Civil War.

Foote's diary recounts his POW experience (capture at Plymouth and trip to Libby)

The latest blog on the Forrest Gump of the Civil War, Morris Cooper Foote!

The latest in our Morris Cooper Foote Civil War series by Kraig McNutt!

Link to the Morris Cooper Foote page on arlingtoncemetery.net

Foote’s Forrest Gump-like ‘luck’ continued throughout his post-Civil War military career.

Morris Cooper Foote was like Forrest Gump during his active and illustrious military service from 1861 until 1903, some 43 years of service.

Morris Cooper Foote (1843-1905) was a lot like Forrest Gump during his vast military career that spanned nearly five decades.