Elmira, New York, as a prison for captured rebels and as a recruiting and mustering in place for new Union soldiers, was in the news 150 years ago this month.
From the Richmond Daily Dispatch February 18, 1865:
Religion in prison.
–There are in the prisoners’ camp in Elmira, New York, at the present time, one thousand six hundred and eleven rebel prisoners who make profession of religion. They have come from twelve different States–Virginia and North Carolina furnishing the largest number. –Five hundred and forty-two are Methodists, five hundred and forty-seven Baptists, one hundred and ten Presbyterians, two hundred and forty-two Catholics, and the remainder are distributed among the less prominent religious denominations.
Two from Seneca County, New York newspapers in February 1865:
FORT FISHER PRISONERS. – The Elmira Advertiser says 216 prisoners taken at Fort Fisher are at that place in confinement.
RESCINDED. – The order sent from Maj. Haddock, Ass’t Provost Marshal General, at Elmira, directing that nothing but greenbacks shall be given to recruits for local bounties has been rescinded.
