Evan,

There is a Thomas Oden, Private, Company G, 1st Alabama Reserves captured "near Spanish Fort" on March 30, 1865.

The last letter in "Oden" is an "n" and not "m" when compared to the writing in other names nearby. This entry is on page 234, line 26, of 598, Roll 136, Volume 406 of the National Archives Microfilm Publications for Confederate Prisoners at Ship Island, Mississippi.

He apparantly was sent directly to Ship Island. On April 10, 1865 Ship Island records (Morning Report for April 11, 1865) show twenty-six officers and 536 enlisted men (the Spanish Fort garrison) arrived on the island.

On May 1, 1865 he was part of 4,040 POWs transferred to Vicksburg, Mississippi. That left 30 prisoners behind. One private and 27 citizens in Camp. One private (Frank Bryant) and One citizen in Hospital. This information was found in the Ship Island Morning Report for May 2, 1865.

The day after the POWs left Private Frank Bryant, Company H, 62nd Alabama Infantry (1st Alabama Reserves) became the last Confederate prisoner to die on Ship Island according to the May 3, 1865 Ship Island Morning Reports.

That is all the information I have on Thomas Oden.

It is possible his name was entered incorrectly considering

I'm still working on the Ship Island book but that pesky "work" keeps getting in the way. I am bound and determined to finish the book.

Best Wishes,

Greg Bova
Tucson, Arizona