Eli (no middle initial) McDaniel, Private, Company F, 8th Louisiana Infantry was shown on company muster rolls as present for duty on 14 MAY 1863 and AWOL from 2 JUL 1863 until the summer of 1864 when they learned that he was a POW.

Federal POW transfer records vary on his date of capture at Gettysburg between 2 JUL 1863 and 5 JUL 1863. Eli was delivered to Fort Delaware in the six day time window 7/12 JUL 1863.

NARA Roll 45, a collection of microfilmed records pertaining to Fort Delaware that do not usually appear in the CMSRs shows that he was initially housed with Division 20 in the wooden POW barracks outside the main fort on Pea Patch Island. Division 20 contained soldiers from Louisiana, Arkansas, and other deep South states. POWs were housed in groups of about 100 men under the supervision of a Confederate sergeant, himself a POW. These divisions bunked together and went to the mess hall together.

NARA Roll 47, another microfilmed collection of Fort Delaware records, shows that Eli was later housed in the "citizens barracks" with Howard's Squad. These were men who had asked while in prison to take the Oath of Allegiance in order to be released from prison but who were not willing (or fit) to enroll in the Union army. They were separated from the loyal Confederates for their own protection in special barracks outside the main prison pen.

Eli's name appeared on a December 1864 Roll of POWs at Fort Delaware "who desire to take the Oath of Allegiance".

These names were passed through Union and Confederate War Department channels down to the units in the field. The record for Company F made near Petersburg, VA on March 15, 1865 may reflect this knowledge with the remark "Destitute of personal pride".

Eli's name also appeared on a "Petition" addressed to the President of the United States and signed by prisoners at Fort Delaware on 1 JUN 1865. The petition asked for the extension of clemency and pardon and requested the release of the individuals who signed it. President Andrew Johnson's Amnesty Proclamation was issued on 29 MAY 1865 and the word quickly spread within the confines of the prison.

Residents of the Fort Delaware "citizens barracks" were released individually and in small groups upon taking the Oath of Allegiance under General Orders No. 85 circa 10 MAY 1865 and by War Department special orders issued from time to time thereafter through 9 JUN 1865. As Wayne and George have already reported, Eli was released upon taking the Oath of Allegiance at Fort Delaware on 9 JUN 1865. Government transportation by water and/or rail was provided him to a point nearest his home in St. Landry Parish.

Hugh Simmons
Fort Delaware Society
www.fortdelaware.org
E-mail: society@fortdelaware.org