Henry Seale
Galvanized Yanks
Sat Jun 23 12:59:37 2001


If he took the oath of allegence in April 1865 after the fall of Richmond and at the end of the war so he could escape starvation and neglect of Camp Douglas, I cannot see condeming him as a traitor. Many joined the U.S. Navy and Army to prevent purposefull starvation and to afford them an opportunity to escape and return to the Confederacy while the war was still going on in 1864. Food rations were purposefully cut to starvation levels and prisoners were offered immediate full food rations and blankets and clothing if they would enlist in the Yank Army or Navy. To condem one for doing this in April 1865 after Richmond fell is,in my opinion, unwarranted. How long was he a prisoner?