Hayes Lowe
Tuscaloosa Prison
Fri Mar 9 14:37:56 2001


I don't know about the lists, but I can give you some information that may help you in your search. But, first, let me say that a always, the story of the Tuscaloosa Prison is *very* confused. Every account that you read is different and contradictory. This includes everything from who the Commander was and when, to where the prison was actually located.

Here is the sequence of events as best that I can sort it out.

Most of these prisoners had been captured at First Manassas. The other prisoners had been captured at Shiloh.


The Federal prisoners had been moved to Tuscaloosa from Richmond by Sgt. Henry Wirz in December 1861 (obviously the Shiloh prisoners were not in this group). The command of the post was given to Captain Elias Griswold, who came to Tuscaloosa from Richmond. The old Tuscaloosa Paper Mill was to be used for the prison (and some say that it actually was used), but Griswold found it unsuitable for use. According to some accounts, the Drish Building and the Washington Hall Hotel were the locations actually used to house the prisoners. These were located on two of the four corners created by what is now called Greensboro Ave. and University Blvd.

The Prison was guarded by Powell's Prison Guard Company (Company A) which was recruited in Tuscaloosa and mustered on December 13, 1861.

The prisoners were moved to Andersonville or paroled across the lines north of Chattanooga (according to whose account that you believe). Powell's Company was disbanded.

A new company was formed, named Freeman's Prison Guards (Company B), but there were no more prisoners to guard, so they were assigned to a prison at Salisbury, N.C. At some point, Wirz had gained the commandantship of the prison. It is noted in the microfilm that Captain H. Wirz raised Freeman's company. This company was organized in August 1862. The recruiter was Captain H. Wirz (indicating to me that the prisoners were exchanged, not sent to Andersonville with Wirz, as he was still in Tuscaloosa). Captain Freeman was previously a 1st Sergeant in Captain Powell's Company.

Wirz was hung after the war, for war crimes (real or imagined)...the only Confederate to receive this treatment according to some accounts. Others would argue that he was not the only one, but perhaps the only one "officially" charged and hung.