101st PA who Escaped after their capture at Plymouth, NC

 

There are a few listed as escaping 22 Feb 65 at Wilmington, NC. I believe these were actually paroled on that date and not actual escapes. Further research is needed.

BEEGLE, Daniel Frederick - 1st Lieutenant, Co. D. Prisoner at Libby Prison, Richmond, VA on 26 April 64. Transferred 7 May 64 to Macon, GA, then to Camp Asylum, Columbia, SC. Escaped from prison, but was recaptured. Paroled 1 March 65 at N. E. Ferry, Wilmington, NC.

BENNER, Henry Snyder - Captain, Co. K. On transfer from Andersonville to Camp Oglethorpe in Macon, GA, Benner and several others escaped, but some, including Benner, were recaptured. Held captive at Macon from 1 May to 27 July 64. Transferred to Savannah, GA from 27 July to 17 Sept 64. Transferred to Charleston, SC from 17 Sept to 1 Oct 64. Transferred next to Columbia, SC from 1 Oct 64 to 14 Feb 65. Finally transferred to Charlotte, NC where Benner escaped. Recaptured and taken to Salisbury, NC. Paroled at Salisbury and passed through the Union lines at West River, NC on 1 March 65. Mustered out 25 June 65.

BOWERS, George Washington, Jr. - Captain, Co. I. Prisoner at Macon & Savannah, GA; Charleston City Jail yard, the Old Marine Hospital at Charleston, & Camp Sorghum, Columbia, SC. Escaped 3 Nov 64 from Columbia. Reached Union lines on 15 Dec 64 at Knoxville, TN. Mustered out 2 Jan 65. Discharged 9 Jan 65 at Washington, DC due to expiration of term.

BROWN, George L. - 1st Lieutenant, Co. I. Wounded in the left breast & arm by minnie ball and captured 20 April 64 at Fort Compher, Plymouth, NC. Sent to field hospital of the 8th NC. The following day was sent to the hospital at Plymouth. Due to wounds, was kept at Plymouth until able to travel. Sent 6 May 64 to Weldon, NC. On 17 May he was sent to the hospital at Macon, GA. Then held captive at Charleston City Jail yard and the Old Marine Hospital at Charleston, SC; Columbia, SC; Charlotte, Raleigh and Goldsboro, NC. Escaped 4 times & recaptured twice by bloodhounds. One of his escapes was on 3 Nov 64 from Camp Sorghum at Columbia, SC. He was out 17 days before being recaptured in east TN. Paroled for exchange 1 March 65. Mustered out 15 Mar 65 at Washington, DC.

BUMBAUGH, George W. - Private, Co. A. Prisoner at Andersonville, GA & Florence Stockade, SC. Escaped from Florence 5 Oct 64. Recaptured 4 Nov 64 near Clinton, NC; giving a fictitious name & regiment. Paroled from Florence during Nov 64 as George H. Dunbar, 85th NY, Co. A. Paroled 16 Dec 64 at Charleston, SC. At Camp Parole, Annapolis, MD when Co. A mustered out.

BURKE, Daniel H. - Private, Co. A. Escaped 22 Feb 65 at Wilmington, NC. Mustered out 25 June 65.

CLARK, Melvin Lewis - Captain, Co. B. POW at Macon, GA for three months, Savannah, GA (Squad 6) for three weeks and Columbia, SC for four or five months. Escaped from Columbia in Nov 64 with five others. On the eighth day he was recaptured near Belton, Anderson Co., SC. Returned to Columbia then transferred to Charlotte, Raleigh and Goldsboro, NC before being paroled.

CONLEY, Isaiah - 1st Lieutenant, Co. G. Escaped 5 Oct 64 at Columbia, SC. Reached Union lines on 13 Nov 64 and reported to Gen. Carter at Knoxville, TN. Returned to the 101st PA. Commissioned 18 May 65 as Captain of Co. G.

COON, John - Sergeant, Co. C. Prisoner at Andersonville, GA & Florence, SC. Escaped 20 Feb 65 at Wilmington, NC. Paroled 22 Feb 65. Discharged 25 April 65 to date 27 Feb 65; expiration of term.

CRAIGHEAD, Garret McCann - Sergeant, Co. G. Prisoner at Andersonville, GA & Florence, SC. Escaped 15 Jan 65 from Florence, recaptured 6 Feb 65. Returned to Florence and placed in the dungeon for some two weeks. Paroled 24 Feb 65 at Aiken’s Landing, VA. Mustered out 25 June 65.

DAILEY, Thomas William - Private, Co. F. Born 1849. Escaped 6 Nov 64. Reported to Union Lines on 22 March 65. Absent on furlough at muster out.

DAVIDSON, William C. - 1st Lieutenant, Co. C. Escaped 5 Oct 64 from the RR cars near Columbia, SC. Reported 13 Nov 64 to Brig. Gen. Carter at Knoxville, TN. Discharged 8 Dec 64; expiration of term.

DAWSON, Thomas B. - Captain, Co. F. Escaped 5 Oct 64 from RR cars near Columbia, SC. Reported 13 Nov 64 at Knoxville, TN. Transferred 15 Nov 64 back to the 101st PA. Discharged 7 Jan 65.

DUNCAN, John M. - Corporal, Co. C. Took Oath to CSA to escape captivity (Pardoned). Escaped 14 May 65 at Augusta, GA. Discharged 20 June 65.

FONNER, George H. - Sergeant, Co. C. Prisoner at Andersonville, GA. Admitted 7 June 64 to the hospital due to Diarrhea and on 12 June he returned to the prison. Volunteered to work in the hospital at Andersonville. By bribing a guard he escaped during Sept 64. While escaping, he was chased by guards with dogs. He hid in a swamp where he laid in water for 5 hours before proceeding towards Atlanta. He found a negro who was delivering a wagon load of bags of corn to Hood’s lines at Atlanta. George hid under the bags and arrived 8 Oct 64 to Sherman’s lines north of Atlanta. Transferred to Atlanta Exchange Barracks, and then to the hospital in Louisville, KY, where he was treated for rheumatism and debility, Then transferred to Washington, DC. Ordered 22 Dec 64 for 30 day furlough and then to return to the regiment. Arrived 6 Jan 65 at the hospital in Pittsburgh. Requested extension to furlough, since he was unable to preform duty due to rheumatism and debility. Discharged 25 Jan 65.

FREEMAN, David W. D. - Captain, Co. C. Prisoner 11 months. Escaped 29 Nov 64 from Camp Asylum, Columbia, SC with Major Pasco, 16th CT Infantry & Capt. Freeman, 7th US Infantry. Traveled through swamps by night and slept during the day in wet clothes with no fire or shelter during cold weather. Captured on the west bank of a branch of the Edisto River near Midway, SC. Paroled 1 March 65 at N.E. Ferry, Wilmington, NC. Discharged 14 March 65.

GILMORE, III James - Sergeant, Co. A. Prisoner at Andersonville, GA & Florence, SC. Escaped from Florence 4 Oct 64 with John Sheafer, Co. A, and 5 other prisoners. Captured, with intent on returning to Florence, but the following day, they took the guns from the guards and escaped again. Captured again and escaped. Only James Gilmore & John Sheafer entered Federal lines on 14 Nov 64 at New Bern, NC, supposedly bringing in 35 Africans with them. Reported to Provost Marshall, District of NC, and sent to Provost Marshall, Roanoke Island, NC prior to 16 Nov 64. Commissioned 2nd Lieut. 18 May 1865. Mustered out 25 June 65.

HELM, John Bowser - 2nd Lieutenant, Co. G. Prisoner at Andersonville (1 day) & Macon, GA; Charleston and Columbia, SC. Escaped from Columbia during Nov 64. Captured by Cherokee Indians in the Smoky Mountains. Taken to Salisbury, NC and then to Danville, VA. Housed during the winter of 64-65 at Danville Prison with a large squad of prisoners that had escaped from various prisons. Escaped again 5 Feb 65, with two others, and reached Union lines on the Roanoke River, above Plymouth, NC. Picked up during March 65 by the USN Gunboat LOCKWOOD. Commissioned 18 May 65 as 1st Lieut. but not mustered. Absent at muster out.

HEPPARD, Thomas H. - 1st Lieutenant, Co. K. Escaped from prison, but was recaptured. Paroled 1 March 65 at N.E. Ferry, Wilmington, NC. Commissioned as Captain on 1 June 65. Mustered out 25 June 65 at New Bern, NC.

JOHNSON, Henry - Colored Cook & Private, Co. C. First served as a Colored Cook and then Mustered in 1 Jan 64 as a Private at Plymouth, NC. Escaped capture during the Battle of Plymouth. Marked as present April 64 at Roanoke Island, NC. Mustered Out 25 June 65.

JONES, David D. - Private, Co. C. Escaped 18 Oct 64 from Andersonville, GA. Reported 14 Nov 64 to Key West, FL. Reported 22 Nov 64 to the New York City Provost Marshall. Transferred to Harrisburg, PA. Discharged 10 Feb 65 to date 14 Nov 64.

LONGENECKER, Jacob H. - Adjutant, Co. D. Prisoner at Macon & Savannah, GA and Charleston & Columbia, SC, Charlotte and Salisbury, NC. Escaped from prison in Charlotte, but was recaptured. Paroled 2 March 65 at N.E. Ferry, Wilmington, NC. Discharged 14 March 65.

McFARLIN, Alfred - Private, Co. C. Escaped to Federal lines 6 March 65 at Cheraw, SC. Absent from Muster out.

McWHORTER, Alexander - Private, Co. I. Wounded 19 April 64 at the Battle of Plymouth, NC by gun shot wound to his right arm and side, resulting in paralysis. Laid outside the 101st Regt. works until captured 20 April 64 at Plymouth, NC. After capture, he was brought inside the breastworks and put in a tent for about a week; being attended by CSA Surgeon. Taken to the hospital in Augusta, GA. Two weeks later, he was moved to the jail to make room for CSA wounded in the hospital. After one week in the jail, he was taken to Andersonville, GA. There is some confusion as to what happens to Alexander at this point. One account states that he was taken to Florence, SC. Enrolled 28 Feb 65, while a POW in Florence, in the CSA under Colonel O'Neil. Escaped 7 May 65 from the CSA at Savannah, GA. In Alexander's account, he states that after arriving at Andersonville, he was only there one week and was transferred to Millen, GA and then to "Charleston" [Probably Blackshear, GA] for a week, and then to Thomasville, GA for 2 weeks. Left Thomasville in a cattle car, enroute back to Andersonville. Escaped from the car. Fed by slaves, and reached Savannah, GA in the later part of April 1865. In either case, he shows up as "escaped" in Savannah, GA somewhere between late April & 7 May 65. Taken to Annapolis, MD and then to Harrisburg, PA. Discharged 10 June 65 to date 23 May 65.

OLER, James W. - Private, Co. D. Escaped or Paroled 22 Feb 65 at Wilmington, NC. Absent at Camp Parole, Annapolis, MD when Co. mustered out at New Bern, NC.

PORTER, John M. - Private, Co. F. Escaped or Paroled 22 Feb 65 at Wilmington, NC. Given 30 day furlough on 2 April 65. Returned 4 May 65 to Camp Parole, MD. Mustered out 25 June 65.

ROHRBACKER, Charles - Private, Co. E. Prisoner at Andersonville, GA & Florence, SC. Escaped or Paroled 22 Feb 65 at Wilmington, NC. Absent at muster out. Died 29 March 1865 from Typhoid Fever.

SHEAFER, John - Corporal, Co. A. Prisoner at Andersonville, GA from 3 May until 6 Sept 64. Transferred to Charleston, SC, then to Florence, SC. Placed in charge of the hospital at Florence. Escaped from Florence 2 Oct 64 with James Gilmore, Co. A. Captured and taken to Conway, SC. Escaped. Captured again by "Louisiana Jim" near Warsaw Station, NC. Escaped and entered Federal lines at Trenton, NC on 14 Nov 64. Reported to Provost Marshall, District of NC, New Bern, NC and sent to Provost Marshall, Roanoke Island, NC prior to 16 Nov 64. Absent on furlough at muster out.

SHEAFFER, Jerome "Jerry" - Private, Co. A. Prisoner at Andersonville, GA & Florence Stockade, SC. Escaped 5 Oct 64 from Florence. Recaptured 20 Oct 64. Paroled 27 Feb 65 at N.E. Ferry, Wilmington, NC. Mustered out 25 June 65.

VAN KIRK, David - Private, Co. C. Prisoner at Andersonville, GA & Florence, SC. Arrived at Florence 2 Oct 64. Escaped 2 Feb 65 from the Florence Stockade. Arrived within the Union lines on 21 April 65. Absent on furlough when Co. C mustered out due to Chronic Diarrhea.