Prisoner's letter reveals Augusta's Civil War past - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

Prisoner's letter reveals Augusta's Civil War past

Posted: Updated:
AUGUSTA, GA -

A faded envelope recently discovered after 148 years is shedding new light on Augusta's role in holding prisoners from the American Civil War.

The Augusta Chronicle reports that its author, Sgt. William S. Marshall, was a young Indiana soldier captured near Rowe Gap, Tenn., on May 3, 1863.

An envelope he addressed to his family in Green Castle, Ind., on Nov. 26, 1864, places him in Augusta, where a county jail at Fourth and Watkins streets was anecdotally known to have housed Union prisoners.

The envelope, signed "W.S. Marshall, Adjt 51st Ind. Vols, Prisoner of War Augusta Ga," was part of a collection sold earlier this month by Siegel Auction Galleries in New York, where it fetched $1,900 as a possibly one-of-a-kind postal artifact.

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

  • Most Popular StoriesMost Popular Stories

  • Monday, May 20 2013 4:34 PM EDT2013-05-20 20:34:24 GMT
    Two children have died and four others were injured in a far east side Indianapolis condominium fire Monday morning.
    Two children have died and four others were injured in a far east side Indianapolis condominium fire Monday morning. Firefighters believe the fire was accidental, but they haven't yet determined the cause.
  • Monday, May 20 2013 1:53 PM EDT2013-05-20 17:53:46 GMT
    Indianapolis Metro Police are asking for your help in locating 18-year-old Alexis Ricard. Alexis has been diagnosed as mildly mentally handicapped and functions at the level of a 12-year-old child. She
    Indianapolis Metro Police are asking for your help in locating 18-year-old Alexis Ricard.
  • Friday, May 17 2013 3:18 PM EDT2013-05-17 19:18:48 GMT
    CeCe Bruce has received a couple of large tips in her life, but nothing like he one she got Wednesday morning. CeCe, a waitress at the Steak 'n Shake restaurant at Keystone and 54th Street, received
    CeCe Bruce has received a couple of large tips in her career, but nothing like the one she got Wednesday morning.
Powered by WorldNow
Links to the FCC website to view WTHR and/or WALV’s on-line public inspection files:
WTHR: https://stations.fcc.gov/station-profile/WTHR   ||   WALV: https://stations.fcc.gov/station-profile/WALV
Individuals with disabilities may contact Jill Pursell at publicfile@wthr.com, or 317.655.5602, for assistance with access to the public inspection files.
Powered by WorldNowAll content © Copyright 2000 - 2013 WorldNow and WTHR. For more information on this site, please read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.