Elmira Prison Camp OnLine Library - Confederate Index: G

Gamble, Thomas E.
Co. I, 25th SC Inf
Thomas E. Gamble enlisted May 16, 1862 at Charleston , SC as a private in Company I of the 25th Regiment South Carolina Infantry. He served with that regiment until he was captured at Fort Fisher, NC on January 15, 1865. Records from the archives indicate he arrived at Elmira on January 30, 1865. He died on April 7, 1865. Cause of death is listed as chronic diarrhea. Records indicate his grave location as #2655. I am attaching a photograph of his grave marker. This photo was located by Mr. Tom Drum of Elmira, and e-mailed to me. ( The marker is #2645, and the name is listed as "F" E Gamble rather than "T" E Gamble).
Information provided by Dan Williams.  Garris, Blout Caswell
Blount was born around 1820 in the Speight's Bridge district of Greene Co., NC. His father was Lewis Garris (1775-1849)of Greene Co., NC. His mother was Nancy Anne Blount (about 1796-?) of Pitt Co., NC. He married Fedora Owens Sawrey in about 1843. Their children were: James Henry (1844-1914), Elizabeth (about 1846-1889), Unknown daughter (perhaps died young), William Washington (1848-1932), Lucinda (about 1850-1894), and Mary Susan (1852-1937). Blount's military records indicate that he entered service in Company G, 8th NC Infantry Regiment as a substitute Private (in other words, somebody with money paid him a bounty to serve in their stead). The date was October 27, 1862, and he is listed as being 46 years old. His eldest son, (my great grandfather) had volunteered earlier in the year (age 17), in Company K, 33rd NC Infantry Regiment. Some initial research of the 8th NC Infantry Regiment indicates that it served early in the war as a "Home Guard" around New Bern, NC. In the Spring/Summer campaign of 1864, the 8th NC joined the Army of Northern Virginia. Blount fought in, and was captured, at the battle of Cold Harbor, VA, on June 1, 1864. He was sent to the Union prison camp at Point Lookout, MD, where his son, James Henry had been held since his capture during Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg, PA, July 3, 1863. Their is no evidence that father and son met at Point Lookout, but it is probable, since men in prison usually gravitate to their home boys. Blount was transferred by train to the Union prison camp at Elmira, NY, on July 12, 1864. Records indicate that he arrived there on July 17, 1864. He was probably a survivor of the notorious Shohola, PA, train wreck on July 15, 1864, which would account for the five days travel from MD to NY. If you have a list of survivors of the Shohola train wreck I would appreciate it if you would tell me if his name is on it. Blount died at Elmira of "Chronic Diarrhea" on April 9, 1865, sadly the day of Lee's surrender at Appomattox Court House. The written record indicates that he was buried in grave plot 2705. However, upon contacting the Elmira Cemetery, I learned that he is in grave plot 2620, and that his last name is misspelled "Garries." The following shows the direct linage of Blout Garris back to Charlemagne: 1.       1.      Charlemagne, King of Franks, 1st Holy Roman Emperor (742-814) 2.       2.      Louis, I, de Aquitaine, King of France (778-840), Son 3.       3.      Charles II, the Bald, King of West Franks (823-877), Grandson 4.       4.      Judith, Princess of the West Franks (844-870), Great-granddaughter
+ Baudouin I, Bras de Fer, Count of Flanders (837-879), Husband of the great-granddaughter 5.       5.      Baudouin, II, the Bald, Count of Flanders (863-918), 2nd great-grandson 6.       6.      Arnolph, I, le Grand, Count of Flanders (889-964), 3rd great-grandson 7.       7.      Elstrude de Flanders (932-?), 4th great-granddaughter
+ Sigefred le Danois, 1st Count of Guisnes (937-?), Husband of the 4th great-granddaughter 8.       8.      Ardolph de Picardy, 2nd Count of Guisnes (950-?), 5th great-grandson 9.       9.      Rudolph le Blount, 3rd Count of Guisnes (980-?), 6th great-grandson 10.   10.   Robert le Blount, 1st Baron of Ixworth (1029-?), 7th great-grandson & Brother of Sir William I 11.   11.   Gilbert le Blount, 2nd Baron of Ixworth (1060-?), 8th great-grandson 12.   12.   William le Blount, 3rd Baron of Ixworth (1090-?), 9th great-grandson 13.   13.   Gilbert le Blount, 4th Baron of Ixworth (1120-1173), 10th great-grandson 14.   14.   Sir Stephen le Blount, of Saxlingham (1166-1235), 11th great-grandson & Husband of the 11th great-granddaughter 15.   15.   Sir William le Blount, I, of Saxlingham (1039-?) 7th great-grandson & Brother of Lord Robert of Ixworth 16.   16.   Sir ? le Blount, of Saxlingham, 8th great-grandson 17.   17.   Sir William le Blount II of Saxlingham, 9th great-grandson 18.   18.   Sir William le Blount III of Saxlingham, 10th great-grandson 19.   19.   Maria le Blount of Saxlingham (1170-?), 11th great-granddaughter & Wife of the 11th great-grandson 20.   20.   Sir Robert le Blount, of Saxlingham (1198-1288), 12th great-grandson 21.   21.   Sir William le Blount, of Timberlake (1245-?), 13th great-grandson 22.   22.   Sir Walter le Blount, of Rock (1270-1322), 14th great-grandson 23.   23.   Sir John le Blount of Sodington (1298-1358), 15th great-grandson 24.   24.   Sir John Blount II of Kinlet (?-1424), 16th great-grandson 25.   25.   John Blount III of Kinlet (?-1442), 17th great-grandson 26.   26.   Humphrey Blount of Kinlet (1422-1477), 18th great-grandson 27.   27.   Sir Thomas Blount of Kinlet (1456-1524), 19th great-grandson 28.   28.   Sir Walter Blount of Astley (?-1461), 20th great-grandson 29.   29.   Robert Blount, Esquire, of Astley (?-1575), 21st great-grandson 30.   30.   Thomas Blount I of Astley (1564-1624), 22nd great-grandson 31.   31.   James Blount I of Astley (?-1651), 23rd great-grandson 32.   32.   Captain James Blount II of Astley (1620-1686), 24th great-grandson, 1st American colonist. 33.   33.   Thomas Blount, Sr. of North Carolina (?-1706), 25th great-grandson 34.   34.   Thomas Blount, Jr. of North Carolina (1687-?), 26th great-grandson 35.   35.   Jacob Blount I of North Carolina (1726-1789), 27th great-grandson 36.   36.   Jacob Blount II of North Carolina (1760-?), 28th great-grandson 37.   37.   Nancy Anne Blount of North Carolina (1796-?), 29th great-granddaughter
+ Lewis Garris of Greene Co., NC (1775-1849), Husband of 29th great-granddaughter 38.   38.   Blount Caswell Garris of Greene Co., NC (1820-1865), 30th great-grandson 39.   39.   James Henry Garris of Greene Co., NC (1844-1914), 31st great-grandson 40.   40.   William James Garris of Greene Co., NC (1884-1923), 32nd great-grandson 41.   41.   Henry Jennings Garris of Greene Co., NC (1912-1993), 33rd great-grandson 42.   42.   Mark William Garris (1949-), 34th great-grandson Information submitted by Mark William Garris.   German, Michael Phillip
Born: 1813 Baltimore, Maryland; Died; After 1885. Hightest Rank: private ·  07/06/1861 Mustered in ist Maryland Light Arty. ·  07/13/1863 Captured by a unit called "The Blue Reserves" at Hagerstown after Gettysburg ·  07/22/1863 sent from Harrisburg to Philadelphia ·  07/23/1863 sent to Fort Delaware POW camp ·  09/26/1863 sent to Point Lookout POW camp ·  07/26/1864 sent to Elmira POW camp ·  05/08/1865 took oath of allegiance ·  6/08/1865 paroled and returned to Baltimore
Information provided by rbethke@att.net.  Gibbs, Benjamin
Co. K, 13th Ala. Inf.
Gibbs was a POW at Elmira NY and was released from there in June 16, 1865. He was captured at Wilderness sent to Point Lookout MD and then to Elmira.
Information provided by savagegibb@aol.com.  Gilkeson, Thomas Edgar
Pvt. Co. K, 14th VA. Cal
Thomas Edgar GILKESON I (1839-12 Jan. 1888) - MD - Rose Margaret DENNIS (1853) (Civil War Vet. PVT Co K, 14 Va C, Greenbrier) Thomas disappeared during the civil war, after some research on this section of the family I found that Thomas was captured, sent to a prison camp at Elmira, New York. At the end of the war he was released and went to work in the fruit country around Rochester, New York where he met and married Rose Dennis. Thomas was a harness maker and later moved to Clinton, Iowa. They later moved to Wessington, South Dakota to homestead and raise sheep. It was during this time he was caught out in the great blizzard of 1888 and froze to death four miles from home. Rose and the children moved back to New York and she remarried a man by the name of Hilary. I checked the 1880 census index and found a Thomas Gilkeson was living in Larimer County, Colorado on page 031 of the census and must have moved later to Wessington, South Dakota.
Information provided by Robert E. Gilkeson.  Gleaton, Joseph Thomas Stansell  Gloucester Boys, The
The pastoral scene shows no signs of the death and disease which gripped this place from July of 1864 to July of 1865. The Chemung River flows gently towards the Susquehanna. Trees are in their full foliage and flowers are in bloom. It is spring in southern New York. One-hundred-thirty seven years ago, on this site, nine Confederate prisoners of war were dying each day. This is the site of the infamous Union prisoner of war camp at Elmira, New York. The men and boys of Gloucester imprisoned here called it “Helmira.� Between July 6, 1864 and July 10, 1865 three thousand prisoners died, one of every four. From my research, I have determined that 126 of Gloucester’s men were imprisoned here, 100 from the 26th Virginia Infantry, and the remainder from the 34th and 46th Infantry and the 5th Virginia Cavalry. Sixty-four of those one hundred twenty-six never saw Gloucester again. Those from the 34th, 46th and 5th came to Elmira from various engagements over a scattered period of time, but I will concentrate on the 26th Virginia Infantry and how its men got to this place. First, however, I must deal with some fundamental issues regarding the War and the current trend towards “political correctness� in lieu of facts. As a descendant of slaveholders, I have struggled with the issue of slavery. As a descendant of Confederate soldiers who were not slaveholders, I have wondered about their involvement in the conflict. I know where I stand on both subjects. Slavery was a despicable institution, and I apologize here and now to any reader whose ancestors were enslaved by my ancestors. The scars from slavery are still with us, and all the wounds have not healed. I cannot undo the past, but I can deal with the present. As to my Confederate ancestors, I honor their memory and their service. When the Confederate flag is used to honor that service, it is appropriate; however, when the Klan, neo-Nazis and other hate groups use that same flag, I am sick to the pit of my stomach. Such usage desecrates our ancestors’ service. Anyone who believes the watermen of Guinea, Timberneck Creek and Robins’ Neck or the woodcutters of Adner and Signpine fought to protect slavery, knows nothing of the history leading to the War Between the States. These men and boys fought and died because Virginia had been invaded by a foreign Army. Just as African-Americans from Gloucester fought and died for the Union Army, free African-Americans from Gloucester, including Alexander Davenport, fought for the Confederacy. Now, back to Elmira. The 26th Infantry was stationed at Gloucester Point from May of 1861 until May of 1862. The first death recorded was of Robert J. Fary, who died at Gloucester Point of disease August 20, 1861.When the Confederacy abandoned the fort at Gloucester Point ( and all of Gloucester County) in 1862, some of the soldiers of the 26th joined the 34th, 46th and 5th Virginia Cavalry. The remaining members moved off in the direction of Richmond, some participating in the Battle of Seven Pines, where the 26th experienced its first battle death . Between 1862 and 1864, the soldiers of the 26th were stationed in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. They were involved in some minor skirmishes, but were relatively unscathed. The Gloucester soldiers returned to the Richmond-Petersburg area in the Spring of 1864. By this time, it was clear that the future of the Confederacy was in serious doubt. It was essential that Richmond and Petersburg be defended at all cost. By late May, the 26th Virginia was in the trenches around Petersburg. By June 15th, 100 Gloucester men had been captured, and several dozen were dead. For the captured, their first stop was the Union prison at Point Lookout, Maryland. Point Lookout was extremely overcrowded, and the prisoners were ordered to Elmira, New York to the site of an existing U.S. Army post to an area called Barracks # 3. Barracks # 3 was the Elmira Prisoner of War Camp. The first soldiers from Gloucester arrived July 6, the day the prison opened. By the end of July, over 4,000 Confederates were imprisoned. One indication of the number of prisoners from Gloucester comes indirectly from Mr. William Post of Elmira, a local grocer. Mr. Post delivered groceries to the POW camp. He also took trinkets the prisoners had made and sold those items in town, then bought goods the soldiers requested. Mr. Post wrote “ In those days, oysters were put up in pint cans, and I used to take many a pint to those Virginia boys.� No doubt, Mr. Post was delivering canned oysters to Gloucester’s oystermen. As with any POW camp, Elmira acted as a place for local citizens to come see these “strange creatures called rebels.� Local entrepreneurs erected an observation platform across the street from the prison, where the prisoners could be viewed for the price of 10 cents. Viewers could purchase lemon drink, ginger cakes, beer and liquor. The local newspaper wrote that “..people from the country won’t go home after their shopping is done without a peep at these varmints…� James Fleming of Gloucester wrote of hearing arguments from the visitors. Some of those visitors supported the prison, while others were called “Copperheads� [southern sympathizers.] In all fairness, the same types of activities occurred around the Confederate prisons for Union soldiers at Andersonville, Georgia and at other locations. In War, it is always easier to hate the enemy if that enemy is portrayed as being “different from us.� By August 21st, one of the 26th was dead. James Fleming wrote of holding his brother John’s hand as John died, and of making a wooden marker for his grave. Before James Fleming returned to Little England the following July, sixty-three other men and boys from Gloucester were dead from disease and starvation. The dead, all 2,963 of them, are buried a mile away at Woodlawn National Cemetery. The fact that marked graves with headstones exist at all is due to the efforts of John W. Jones, sexton of the cemetery during the time. John Jones was born a slave in Loudon County, Virginia and had worked his way north via the Underground Railroad, and was an established businessman in Elmira. He kept meticulous records of each death, and supervised each burial personally. He insisted on respect for the Confederate dead, in opposition to the wishes of Union commanders. Mr. Jones even had the task of burying two grandsons of his former owner. The largest number of soldiers buried in any one day was forty-eight. Because of John Jones, I can tell you that Cornelius Coates is at grave # 1862; Robert Gwyn lies at # 1286; J.T Milby at # 2935; John Fleming at # 31; William Wyatt is at # 857; James Bristow at # 671; Joshua Rilee rests at #1023; John Robins at # 2393. There are fifty-five other Gloucester soldiers whose graves I visited. In a common grave lies R.P Haynes. Haynes is one of the 26th who died along with forty other prisoners and eight Union guards in a train accident on July 15th while being transported to Elmira. My first stop in Elmira was the Chemung County History Museum, where microfilm copies of original camp records are available, as well as numerous stories on the prison and files of recorded recollections of soldiers who survived. The list of the dead and their grave numbers is also available. From the museum, I proceeded to what is left of the original prison site. I walked over a dike to get a view of the layout of those 300 acres. A monument and flagpole are all that remain at the original site. From there I proceeded to Woodlawn National Cemetery. It was, to say the least, an emotional journey. When, not if, you go to Elmira, I suggest that you visit the Museum before going to the POW camp and the National Cemetery. The museum staff will help you place the other locations in perspective. Elmira is a one-day drive from Gloucester just above the Pennsylvania/New York line. The names of Gloucester’s soldiers imprisoned at Elmira reads like a history of Gloucester --- Ash, Bland, Booker, Brown, Clements, Croswell, DuVal, Eubank, Fary, Hogg, Howlett, Jenkins, Kemp, Leigh, Marshall, Milby, Newbill, Nuttall, Oliver, Pointer, Rilee, Rowe, Sears, Shackelford, White, and dozens of others. Family has not visited the graves of some of your ancestors and cousins in over 137 years. Don’t you owe your people a “thank you� in person ?
Information submitted by Cy Rilee.  Goode, James
On April 23, 1861, just three months after the birth of Ida Catherine, James Goode enlisted in the Confederate Army at Gloucester Courthouse and was assigned to Company B of the 26th Virginia Infantry. His brother, Washington, enlisted one month later, in the same unit. For the next several years Private Goode was stationed at the Confederate fort at Gloucester Point and was not involved in any battles until 1864 when his unit was transferred to reinforce the defenses for the Battle of Petersburg. Because Company B was a well-trained unit, they were assigned to Battery Five, the most vulnerable position of the Southern defense and the most likely place for the Yankees to intensify their attack. On June 15, 1864, Battery Five received the full onslaught of the invading Northern army. Among those taken captive were Private James Thomas Goode, and his brother, Washington. Private James Nuttall, who was also captured that day later described what followed: "The next day after getting to Bermuda Hundred we were put on a steamer and sent to Old Point and were put in a pen until the next day then put on a steamer and sent to Point Lookout (Maryland) kept us there four or five weeks, put three hundred on a steamer and sent to Jersey City and we took cars there to Elmira, New York ….. When I left Pt. Lookout I was nearly dead, the copperness water was killing more of our men than the Yankee balls." On September 20, 1864, James Thomas Goode died of typhoid fever in the prison camp in Elmira, New York; he was buried at Woodlawn National Cemetery, plot #509 W. N. C. Hardly a month later, his brother, Washington died, October, 15 1864, of "chronic diarrhea." Washington was buried at Woodlawn National Cemetery, plot #553 W. N. C. Mary Catherine Groome (1835-?) married James Thomas Goode (1831-1864); they had two children: John Thomas and Ida Catherine. While her husband was away fighting the Yankees, Mary Catherine assumed the responsibility of raising their small children and operating the family farm. At the settlement of the war, Mary Catherine was awarded a pension of $8 per month for her husband's contribution to the Confederate cause. She never remarried nor did she ever give up the rigorous farm life. Mary Catherine lived out her life in the household of her son, John Thomas Goode. Frances Groom married Andrew Washington Goode, whose older brother, James Thomas Goode, married Frances's older sister, Mary Catherine Groom. Frances living with their mother, and Mary Catherine spending the rest of her life working the family farm near the residence of her mother and sister, who was also her sister-in-law. By 1875, Frances had remarried and gave birth to a son, Thomas McDonough, by her second husband.
Information submitted by  Gordon, Samuel A.
Pvt 5th Va Inf Co B
4/18/61 Lexington clerk; age 23; Transferred with company to 4th and 27th Regiments. Va. Inf. Elected Cpl., Co. H, 27th Regt., Oct. 7, 1661. Elected Sgt., Nov.27, 1861, but he was back to Pvt., by end of Oct. 1862. Sent to hospital, Lynchburg, Dec. 2,1862. Captured at Spotsylvania, May 20,1864; sent to Point Lookout and Elmira; released June 30, 1865. Postwar roster states he died in service.  Gowen, A.
Pvt 5th Va Inf Co H.
Date of capture and place unknown. Died of disease at Elmira Sept. 21,1864. Buried Woodland Cemetery, Grave. No.484.  Glover, Eli S.
Co. F 1st Ala. Art.
He was captured at Fort Morgan on August 23, 1864 and shipped to Helmira from New Orleans, La. on Sept. 27, 1864. He was received in Helmira Oct. 8, 1864 and died there Feb. 16, 1865. Eli was from Henry County, Alabama. His first wife was Susan K. Glover daughter of John P. Glover of Barbour County, Al. Eli's family came to the USA before the American Revolution and all his grandfathers served in the AR. His families were pioneers into this country and are listed on the Georgia Pioneers List. The Glover family along with Eli were also pioneers into Alabama. Eli lost Susan in 1858 to death they had 4 children all under age 4. He remarried and had an additional 3 children. When he was killed at Elmira the 4 children of his marriage to Susan was sent to different family members to live with since both mother and father were not dead.
Information provided by Margie Glover-Daniels  Grant, Barnabas
Pvt. 4th SC Cav. Co. E
Captured Trevilian Station; died Elmira Prison, New York.  Grossclose, William J.
Pvt Co C 51st Va Inf. Regt 7/30/61 Wytheville; POW Frederick, Md. 7/10/64; Old Capitol Prison 7/17/64 to Elmira 7/25/64; sent to James River for exchange 2/20/65; alive 1912.