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Escape from Andersonville!

Escape from Andersonville!

Posted: 7 Jul 2008 11:54PM GMT
Classification: Military
Surnames: Graham, Stoneman
Is there a list or stories of men who escaped from Andersonville? My records tell me my ansestor(Charles H. Graham) and his friend(Michael Stoneman) escaped back to the north?

Re: Escape from Andersonville!

Posted: 12 May 2010 9:08PM GMT
Classification: Query

Re: Escape from Andersonville!

Posted: 31 Aug 2010 1:25AM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Potter
a Man by the name of Adin Potter escaped with some others, they walked back to Illinois from Andersonville. A guard helped them escape. He had been kind to the Confederate early in the war when the Confed. was captured and shared his blanket with him on a cold night. Later this man was a guard at Andesonville and he returned the kindness by helping Adin to escape, I do not know the names of those who went with Adin Potter.

Re: Escape from Andersonville!

Posted: 15 Aug 2011 8:45PM GMT
Classification: Query
Actually he did not escape from Andersonville. I have been a historian at Andersonville for 14 years. His record shows the following.


Code No: 45216
Grave No:
Last Name: Potter
First Name: Adin H.
Rank: Private
Company: D
Regiment: 6
State: NY
Branch Of Service : Cavalry
Date of Death:
Cause of Death:
Remarks* Sent to Camp Lawton, Millen, Georgia, October 31, 1864. Escaped, date and location not noted; sent from Hilton Head, South Carolina to Washington, D.C., May 24, 1865. Mustered outJune 5, 1865 at Cloud’s Mills, Virginia
Reference: p 583 [47], NY ADG RPT, 6th CAV: 583
Place Captured: Trevilian Station, Virginia
Date Captured: 6/11/1864
Alternate Names:
Status: Survived Andersonville
Muster date: 9/28/1861
Age at Muster: 18
More Information Available : NO

Re: Escape from Andersonville!

Posted: 15 Aug 2011 9:29PM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Potter
I am finding your reply a little confusing. The Adin H. Potter that I was asking about, died and is buried in Litchfield, Ne. So is there a grave some where else of an Adin H. Potter. Are the records some how incorrect. I can show proof of my Adin, Obit, Pension file, Census records and more. Maybe I just do not understand the record what does if mean by grave No. That is not no for number but is it saying no grave. Also you are saying it was not Andersonville but another camp he escaped from. By reading his record I did know he was at other camps and did think he may have left from another camp. Sorry to say family history written by his own son has been recorded that he escaped from Andersonville and it is very much established as such, including it is now on an Historical Marker. My face is red as I am the one the got that put on the marker. As you have proved to me that some folks get things incorrect in family memories and some other men mis represented the facts of the events of the Civil War when they served.
Dove

Re: Escape from Andersonville!

Posted: 15 Aug 2011 10:10PM GMT
Classification: Query
Of the more than 41000 prisoners we have records on who were held POW here at Andersonville, there is only one Adin Potter listed. Happens to be Adin H. Potter. The form I posted with details is a standard I use and having the word Grave doesnt mean anything. No number, hes not buried here. You knew that. The information that he escaped after or while being transfered between prisons is p 583 [47], NY ADG RPT, 6th CAV: 583

This information is listed on page 47 of the New York Adjutant Generals Report . This report was made by all states at the close of the war to account or try to account for all soldiers from that state who returned and did not return. Paperwork had to be worked out even thought the war ended. As this one is New York and he escaped,, seems like your man was enlisted in a New York regiment, or two stories got crossed and your guy was not here. Keep in mind that many who enlisted, often went back to their home state and enlisted with family, friends, etc.... Those he could trust.

So.. If this is your guy, then you did the right thing of getting a grave marker for him. Not certain of what state he fought for, the New York State report says he was in the NY 6th Cav.

Re: Escape from Andersonville!

Posted: 15 Aug 2011 10:54PM GMT
Classification: Query
Adin Hiram Potter was born at Hampton,N.Y.24 Feb. 1844, He enlisted 5 September 1861, Co. D. 6 th regiment, N.Y. Vol.at Granville, N. Y. He was discharged 5 June 1895. Some time after the Civil War he was a resident of Illinois. His obit. is the source of this information, it also states he spent 18 mo. at Andersonville. His death was 13 June 1905, Litchfield, Ne. His late date of muster out, was due to him having to prove his was in prison and did not desert.

Re: Escape from Andersonville!

Posted: 15 Aug 2011 11:20PM GMT
Classification: Query
You might want to make a note on his time at Andersonville. 18 months here is a strech as Andersonvilleonly existed 14 months. His record shows he was captured 6/11/1864 and the prison was esentially closed late April 1865 so thats only 10 months and the vast majority of the prisoner were transported to other prisons before Christmas 1864 so odds he was here 6 months tops,, but still nothing to sneeze at. Every day was pure Hell.

Re: Escape from Andersonville!

Posted: 16 Aug 2011 12:29AM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Potter
Sounds like I need to look in to his file for service. I do remember he was in one or two other places , other than Andersonville. A. H. Potter, may have been a prisoner for 18 mo. more or less however the family may have over time not remembered the correct places and dates. For all who are reading this he was not a member of my family. I will try and look this up some time soon and get back with my findings.

Re: Escape from Andersonville!

Posted: 17 Aug 2011 1:55AM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Potter
I have found the file for Adin H. Potter. MEMORANDUM FROM PRISONER OF WAR RECORDS, Captured at Chancellorsville Va. 3 May 1863, confined at Richmond Va. 9 May 1863, Paroled at City Point Va. 14 May, 1863. Reported at Camp Parole, Md. 16 May 1863, Sent to Washington DC 20 May 1863, Present at Camp Convalescent Va. 29 May 1863. On rolls at Camp Convalescent,Va. 24 July 1863. without remark No later record of this capture. Again captured at Bealton Station, Va. 8 Nov.1863 Confined at Richmond,Va.14 Nov 1863 and (wrote above that date Dec. 4.) Sent to Andersonville Ga. 17 March 1864. Confined there date not given. Sent to Millen 31 Oct. 1864. Escaped place or date not given. Reported at Dept of the South date not given Sent to (this part hard to understand) Pro Near Genl. Washington D.C. per Steamer Star of the South 24 May 1865
A note on the side of this page, Captured at White Sulpher Springs 8 Nov. 1863 and escaped and reached union lines 23 April 1865
So to sum this up he may have escaped from Millen, Seems to me I read that it was easy to sneak into the woods and walk away from Millen. I thought the war was over and the troops mustered out in July of 1864, this record does say 1865 for Adin to reach the Union lines. So why in 1865, did they continue to hold the Union guys in prison after the war ended. The above information was hand written in his record and I did my best to retype it as it read.
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