You wrote: >>> I know that many drummer boys or youngsters too young to be exchanged were kept at Fort Delaware. <<<

Never heard this before! I am not aware of any rules that pertained to age relative to exchanges, and I have devoted much time and effort to the study of this area of Civil War history. I would be interested in knowing more about this theory.

I did a lookup for another person back in February 2011 on Joseph A. Houston. My research notes show that he was enrolled 1 OCT 1861 at Iuka, Mississippi to serve as a Private in Company D, 2nd Mississippi Infantry. He was then 20 years of age, a farmer, single and a resident of Pine Grove, Tippah County, Mississippi. Captured at Gettysburg on 1 JUL 1863, Joseph was delivered to Fort Delaware on 6 JUL 1863 and held there until after the war was over. He was released on 11 JUN 1865 under General Orders No. 109 after taking the Oath of Allegiance. Transportation was provided to a point nearest his home that could be reached by water and/or rail. His place of residence for this purposes was given as Tippah County, Mississippi.

I will be happy to exchange information with you and learn more about Joseph!

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