Civil War Prisoners
Andersonville Prison was the worst of the Confederate prison camps. Seven of the eight Cabot prisoners of war on this page were imprisoned there. The sole exception was Private John Bolton. He was among the 12,400 Union troops surrendered at Harper's Ferry in 1862, before Andersonville Prison opened. The Harper's Ferry prisoners were paroled after a short time, in exchange for Confederate prisoners.
Another Cabot soldier, Captain Edwin J. Morrill, attempted to escape from the train bringing prisoners to Andersonville. He was shot and died from his wound the next day. Captain Morrill was captured at the First Battle of Weldon Railroad, in Virginia, June 21-24, 1864. His body was returned and buried in the Durant Cemetery in Lower Cabot in 1866.
Edwin J. MORRILL. Born in Durham, Canada East. Son of Abel Morrill, who moved from Canada to Danville, when Edwin was one year old. At sixteen, Edwin entered the employment of Fairbanks Scales in St. Johnsbury. In 1862, he engaged with George E. Chainberlin, (afterwards Lt. Colonel of the 11th Regiment), in recruiting Company A of the 11th Regiment. He was commissioned 1st Lieutenant of Company A, August 12, 1862. Mustered into United States service Sept. 1, 1862. Promoted Captain, September 2, 1862. Taken prisoner on Weldon Railroad June 23, 1864, and conveyed to Libby prison, Richmond. On the 29th of the same month, with others taken prisoners the same time, started by railroad, for Andersonville, Ga. The same night between Richmond and Lynchburg, at or near Appomattox Station, Captains Morrill, with Captain Eldredge of Company H, got out of the car windows while the train was moving, trying to escape. The night was dark and rainy. Captain Morrill--rather a large, heavy man--after getting through the window and on the outside of the car, retained his hold for a short time, instead of dropping quietly upon the ground, and, making some noise in his movements, attracted the attention of a guard on the platform. He was fired upon, the bullet passing through his bowels. The wound was fatal. He died the next day, June 30. It was ascertained, by means of a flag of truce, that his body was decently buried, near the place where he was shot. After he was shot, he was taken to a Railroad Station. Captain Eldredge remained with him till morning, when, to save himself, he was compelled to leave him. Captain Eldredge finally succeeded in making his escape.
Fifty-nine officers and privates from Company A, were taken prisoners at this time. From Companies F, H, L, and K of the 11ith Regiment, eighteen officers and 238 privates. Twenty of the fifty- nine from Company A, enlisted at St. Johnsbury. Samuel W. Marden and Patrick Howard, also enlisted men from St. Johnsbury, were killed before our forces surrendered. Ten died while prisoners of war, and one, John Green, after leaving Andersonville, on his way home. Including Captain Morrill, twelve out of the twenty taken prisoners lost their lives.
Cheever, Perry, Trow, Webster, and West were captured in the same battle. Andersonville (Camp Sumter) was open for just fourteen months. 45,000 Union soldiers were imprisoned there. Almost 13,000 died from disease, poor sanitation, malnutrition, overcrowding, or exposure.
John Bolton, Pvt., 9th Inf., Co. E . Prisoner at Harper's Ferry, wounded twice, buried in Danville.
Moses R. Cheever, Pvt. 4th Inf., Co. G paroled from Andersonville.
Eli P. Gerry, 4th Inf., Co H (died Andersonville, January 26, 1865, age 38)0
Adolphus B. Perry, Jr. Residence Cabot VT;Enlisted on 9/11/1861, as a Private.On 9/21/1861 he mustered into "H" Co. VT 4th InfantryRe-enlisted on 12/15/1863 Died of disease as POW on 3/3/1865, at Andersonville, GA, listed as: POW 6/23/1864 Weldon Railroad, VA Buried: Andersonville National Cemetery, Andersonville, GA Gravesite: 12721
Kendrick Trow Private,17th Infantry,Company D,died 8/24/1864 in Andersonville prison of starvation and debilities, buried at Andersonville National Cemetery, Andersonville, Georgia
Nathan L. Webster, Pvt. Co. A, VVI (wounded at Wilderness, captured at Weldon Railroad, prisoner in Andersonville, died Annapolis, MD, of disease.contracted in prison. (His brother, Sgt. William A. Webster, a resident of neighboring Marshfield, died in Andersonville prison.)
William Nelson West, Corporal, 4th Infantry, Company H (prisoner 6/23/1864, paroled from Andersonville) (Buried, Peacham Cor. Cem., VT.) of Cabot, VT.: VT 4 th Regt. Co. H, listed under “Corporals”. Enlisted on Sept. 7, 1861, mustered in Sept. 21, 1861. Re-enlisted Dec. 15, 1863, promoted sergeant, taken prisoner June 23, 1864. Paroled March 4, 1865; transferred to Co. C Feb. 25, 1865. Mustered out July 17, 1865. West and a Peacham soldier, Horace E. Rowe, were in Andersonville Prison together. West and Rowe had been boys together and tentmates in the army. Rowe’s health deteriorated quickly; he was so weak he could barely stand. One thousand prisoners were counted off one night, for an exchange the next morning. Seventeen died overnight, so Confederates soldiers chose the closest prisoners, to fill the quota. West was the last man chosen. West got Rowe to his feet outside the stockade and in the line by placing Rowe's hands on West's shoulders. An officer came down the line, counting prisoners. While the officer's back was turned, West stepped out from under Rowe's hands and placed them on the shoulders of the man in front, saying, "Horace I m stronger than you are; if you go back you ll never get out alive. I'll stand a chance." Rowe did as told and paroled out of Andersonville. He eventually was put on a boat for New York. He once was thought to be dead, but lived. He crawled up the lane to his mother’s house. She thought it was an animal at first, then recognized her son. When he went into the army, he weighed 217 lbs. and came out at 90 lbs, after three months in Andersonville prison camp. West stayed in Andersonville another five months, before being paroled in March 1865. He reunited with Rowe in Peacham; they were closer than brothers after that. People called them “David and Jonathan,” after the heroes of Israel, who formed a covenant, in the Old Testament Book of Samuel.