The following is one of the more than 2,000 biographies at Camp Chase and because of the sad story I have decided to post it.
Private James B. STEELE - Inscription on tombstone #1791 reads “JAS. B. STEEL CO. K 33 MISS. REG. C.S.A.”
The 1850 United States census listed James B. (Spelled as Steel) born about 1825 in Mississippi and listed his occupation as a farmer and as the head of household and living with what appears to be his wife Rebecca, born about 1824, and a daughter S. T. Steel, born about 1847 and Thomas A. Steel, born about 1849. The 1850 United States census for Amite County, Mississippi was done in November of 1850 and the family was noted as living in Amite County, Mississippi.
The 1860 United States census listed James B. (Spelled as Steete) but corrected by the transcriber on the census as Steele, born about 1825 and listed as the head of the household and living in Amite County, Mississippi with the nearest Post Office reported as Liberty and it was noted that James B. Steele had been born in Mississippi. James B. Steele’s occupation was listed as a planter and his real estate was valued at $900.00 and his personal estate as $2,500.00. The compiler notes the 1860 census in Amite County, Mississippi was done in July of 1860. Among those listed in the household were Susan Steele, born about 1848 and Thomas Steele, born about 1850 and Amos Steele, born about 1852 and Harman Steele, born about 1854 (The compiler notes one Harmon J. Steele born in 1853 died in 1881 and was buried in the [Spelled as] Steele Cemetery in Amite County, Mississippi and on his tombstone the surname was spelled as Steele) and Matilda Steele, born about 1856 and William Steele, listed as seven months old.
The compiler notes that noticeably missing was the wife and mother Rebecca. The compiler notes according to the Federal Census Mortality Schedule Index, 1850-1880 that one Rebecca (Spelled as) Steele, age thirty-four and a resident of Amite County, Mississippi was burned to death in January of 1860.
The compiler notes Company K’s nickname was known as the “Amite Defenders” and initially raised in Amite County, Mississippi and that the regiment was formed in mid April of 1862 at Grenada, Mississippi.
The compiler notes at the Battle of Nashville, Tennessee fought on December 15th and 16th 1864 that the 33rd Mississippi Infantry was part of Featherston’s Brigade; Loring’s Division; Stewart’s Corps; Army of Tennessee with General Hood Commanding.
Compiled Military Service Records stated on his company muster rolls for March and April 1863 Private J. B. Steele had enlisted at Brookhaven, Mississippi on January 16, 1863 in Company K of the 33rd Mississippi Infantry and that he was present for duty. Company muster rolls for May and June 1863 stated the same information and that he enlisted for three years and he was present for duty. Company muster rolls for July and August 1863 stated he had been paid on June 30, 1863 and it was noted he was present for duty. Company muster rolls for November and December 1863 stated he had been paid on October 31, 1863 and that he was still present for duty. Company muster rolls for March and April 1864 stated he had been paid on December 31, 1863 and he was present for duty. Company muster rolls for July and August 1864 stated he was last paid on December 31, 1863 and was present for duty. Confederate Records stated he was at the Lumpkin Hospital in Cuthbert, Georgia on September 21, 1864 and while there received clothing and it was noted he was “destitute for clothing.” The compiler also notes he signed his name for the clothing and he wrote his name as “James B. Steele.” His last company muster roll dated August 31, 1864 through February 28, 1865 stated he was “absent and captured at Columbia, Tennessee” and it was noted he had last been paid on February 29, 1864. The compiler notes there were some other inconsistencies on his last company muster rolls such as his given name as John which an X had been made near the name thus indicating that his given name was incorrect. The compiler also notes the Confederate authorities had ordered a muster roll for many Confederate units late in the war, due to hard marching and many hard fought battles it was difficult to keep records in a timely fashion and that this also might contribute to some of his inconsistencies on his last company muster roll.
Federal POW Records reported Private James B. (Spelled as) Steele of Company K of the 33rd Mississippi Infantry was taken prisoner at Columbia, Tennessee on December 22, 1864. Federal POW Records reported Private James B. Steele of Company K 33rd Mississippi Infantry as admitted to the United States Army Hospital at Nashville, Tennessee on January 21, 1865 and his status was a convalescent. It further noted his age was forty and that he was released to the Provost Marshall on January 23, 1865 which he was then transferred to the military prison at Louisville, Kentucky where he arrived on January 24, 1865. Federal POW Records reported him being transferred to Camp Chase from Louisville, Kentucky on January 25, 1865. Federal POW Records stated he arrived at Camp Chase on January 27, 1865.
The compiler notes and interesting notation on his Federal POW Records and this did happen on rare occasions. Federal POW Records reported James B. Steele of Company K of the 33rd Mississippi earmarked for exchange at the Point Lookout, Maryland prison. He was transferred there and received at Point Lookout, Maryland on March 31, 1865 and on the rolls at Point Lookout, Maryland on May 30, 1865. However an asterisk was next to his name as being transferred to Point Lookout. At the bottom of his Federal POW records it stated “Prisoner who arrived at this station (Point Lookout) under assumed name, or assumed one for the purpose of being transferred, exchanged or released.” Who the prisoner was at Camp Chase, who committed this identity fraud and took his name is not known but testifies to the extent of what some soldiers would do to get out of the Camp Chase prison. It is plausible when James B. Steele died a few days later the Camp Chase authorities telegraphed Point Lookout to alert them of the imposter.
Federal POW Records at ancestry (23261) stated that he was admitted to the Camp Chase Hospital on March 18, 1865 for diarrhea.
On March 31, 1865 President Lincoln is urged by Stanton to remain a few days more at the front. (Petersburg, Virginia) “A pause by the army now would do harm; if you are on the ground there will be no pause.”
And at far away Camp Chase, Ohio on Friday, March 31, 1865 Private James B. Steele died of chronic diarrhea at the Camp Chase Hospital.
The 1850 Slave Census did show J. B. Steel of Amite County, Mississippi having one male slave at age six.
If the compiler were making the tombstone it would read: “JAS. B. STEELE CO. K 33 MISS. INF. C.S.A.”