The following articles, contemporaneous to the imprisonment of Logan Bolch and other Confederate prisoners at Chester, Pennsylvania, after being wounded and left on the battlefield at Gettysburg, were furnished by Tom Belton, Curator of Military History at the North Carolina Museum of History in Raleigh, NC.

Query: CORLISS: rebel prisoners

>ITEM #14999

Jul 17, 1863 Chester, Pennsylvania (Delaware County) DELAWARE COUNTY REPUBLICAN

REBEL SICK AND WOUNDED. - Fifty rebel prisoners, most of them sick and wounded, arrived at the United States General Hospital near this place, on Tuesday last. They were a hard party - dirty, villainous looking, and dressed in all manner of costumes. A portion of them were officers, doubtless a grade above the 'white trash,' as the slave holding nabobs, were wont, in times past, to stigmatize the poor white laborer. The Hospital here has been selected as one of the stations for the rebel wounded. We join with our fellow citizens in the deep regret that is universally felt that so fine an institution should have been converted into a retreat of the enemy. There is said by competent judges to be no better Hospital in the country, in point of healthy location, eligibility and other matters that tend to make such a place desirable. And yet the wounded and sick or our own Army must be transported to other institutions possessing few if any of the advantages of the one in our locality, to give place to these ragged rebels, who have been shooting down our brothers, relatives and friends. We wish we could have been spared this infliction. [CW]

Query: CORLISS: rebel prisoners

>ITEM #15018

Jul 24, 1863 Chester, Pennsylvania (Delaware County) DELAWARE COUNTY REPUBLICAN

'REBS.' Since our last issue, a large number of wounded rebel prisoners have arrived at the United States Army Hospital near this place, and the institution, we are told, is literally crowded with these people. A train of cars brought a lot on Friday, and several transport steamers have since landed their living freight at our wharves. One of these vessels, which reached here on Sunday, had on board seven hundred, only two or three hundred of whom found accommodations at the hospital. The remainder was taken to New York to be placed in a similar institution there. Language fails to describe the personal appearance of the genus rebel. Let the reader who has never seen a specimen of the tribe, imagine a crowd of miserable rag pickers or dock loafers, such as were, at one time, to be found, in small numbers, along the wharves of our seaport cities - dirty, filthy, ragged and infested with vermin - looking as devoid of animation as brutes, and he may form a faint idea of a gang of secesh, able to walk, as they appeared on their march through our streets to their destination. They are all of a dirty, clay color, and no two of them are dressed alike - some even being clad in the faded and torn cast off blouse of the Union soldier. The badly wounded are truly objects of compassion. Some of them are without legs, others minus an arm, while many are injured in the head and breast. A few - generally those who have been forced into the service - say they are tired of the war, assert their regard for the old flag, and declare they will never again fight for Jeff Davis, while others express a determination to go back to the rebel army as soon as they are exchanged. The officers, of whom there are a goodly number, are as respectable looking as the privates, and can only be distinguished by some mark, such as a chevron on their coat collars, or a tassel on their shocking bad hats. The prisoners are placed in the bath at the hospital, as soon as they arrive, cleansed as far as soap and water will cleanse them, and then dressed in Uncle Sam's clothing. A few days will transform them into some decency of appearance at least. Arrangements are being made to accommodate fifteen hundred of them at the institution. [CW]

Query: CORLISS: Chester rural cemetery

>ITEM #15041

Aug 5, 1863 Media, Pennsylvania (Delaware County) DELAWARE COUNTY AMERICAN

DYING OFF. - The rebels, who number some thirteen hundred, at the Upland Hospital, are dying off at the rate of ten to thirteen a day, and the deaths are said to be on the increase, from the fact that the diarrhea, which is of an inveterate character, has broken out among them. The hospital is in a crowded condition, and none but the worst cases having been brought there, the mortality among them may be expected to be great. Many of the worst are placed in tents in the adjoining lots, where they can have plenty of air, and where they will be removed somewhat from the influence of the obnoxious mass of putridity which exists in the wards. Those who die are placed in pine coffins, and buried in the RURAL CEMETERY, near Chester, where a lot has been set apart for them at so much per head. They are treated precisely as the Union soldiers. This is right. They are the victims of bad men, and while they are at our mercy as prisoners of war, it would be cowardly, and beneath the spirit and dignity of our people to use them indifferently or barbarously. We do not however, suppose our citizens are going to tax themselves to an infringement on the wants of the Union soldiers, nor that our ladies who on other occasions even vied with each other in their attentions at this Hospital, only to be insulted or treated with the coldest indifference, are now going to sacrifice their health, or endanger their lives among so much disease and filth which now exists there. [CW]

Query: CORLISS: fort Delaware

>ITEM #15051

Aug 7, 1863 Chester, Pennsylvania (Delaware County) DELAWARE COUNTY REPUBLICAN

'THE POOR REBS.' Over an hundred rebels of the fifteen hundred recently brought to the Army Hospital near this place, have 'fought their last fight.' Among the number deceased, are Captains, Lieutenants and the lower grade of officers. They hailed from all parts of Secesh, from South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Virginia and Maryland - not a few from the latter State. The principal part of those who have died were afflicted with chronic diarrhea before their arrival here. - Many of them were sent from Fort Delaware, and were in the last stage of sickness when they reached the Hospital. No men could be more kindly treated or better cared for, and this contrasts strongly with the treatment of our soldiers taken to Richmond, confined in the Libby prison, in the tobacco warehouses, and other filthy holes, the strictest surveillance put upon them, and only half fed. [CW]

Query: CORLISS: fort Delaware

>ITEM #15052

Aug 7, 1863 Chester, Pennsylvania (Delaware County) DELAWARE COUNTY REPUBLICAN

FORT DELAWARE. - There are now about 12,000 rebel prisoners at Fort Delaware, and new barracks are in course of erection. It is said that 10,000 more are to be sent there. - On Monday night of last week, about 12 o'clock, one of the prisoners was shot while attempting to escape. He was stripped naked and has fastened canteens under his arms, which buoyed him up. His clothes were tied in a bundle and placed on his back. He was discovered when about fifty yards from the fort, when he was fired upon by the guard, and instantly killed, one shot passing through his arm, and another through his lungs. The canteens buoyed up the body, and it was subsequently recovered. The firing occasioned considerable excitement at the Fort. The long roll was beat; the garrison rushed to arms and was formed into line. The cannon was loaded with grape, and brought to bear on the rebel quarters, in anticipation of a general rising of the rebs. When the cause was ascertained the troops returned to their quarters and quiet was restored. [CW]

Query: CORLISS: fort Delaware

>ITEM #15068

Aug 14, 1863 Chester, Pennsylvania (Delaware County)

 DELAWARE COUNTY REPUBLICAN

MORE REBS. - A steamer from Fort Delaware, on Monday last, brought another additional hundred rebels to the United States Army Hospital at this place. They were the most woe begone specimens of humanity we ever laid eyes on. Wan and wasted, they were mere walking skeletons of men, and seem to have been sent here only to die. They are without animation, and if they are a fair representation of the poor men of the South, we pity those who are under the slaveholder’s rule. [CW]

Query: CORLISS: rebel prisoners

>ITEM #15084

Aug 19, 1863 Media, Pennsylvania (Delaware County) DELAWARE COUNTY AMERICAN

THINGS IN CHESTER. -

THE 'REBS.' - The sick and wounded rebel prisoners in the U.S. Hospital at Upland, are being removed as soon as they become convalescent, and others are sent on to supply their places. On Monday last about three hundred of them were transferred to Fortress Monroe, probably to remain until exchanged, and as they were marched through the town on their way to the boat, an admirable opportunity was afforded their sympathizers of displaying to the public their love for the rebels, and their devotion to their bankrupt cause. For some time past various parties from Baltimore and elsewhere, have been boarding at the hotels in this Borough, and these have been visiting the Hospital almost daily, carrying with them ice cream, fruit and delicacies of almost every kind, for distribution amongst there friends and favorites, the rebels. I wish I could say that these at least ill advised attentions were confined to strangers, but so far from this being the fact, several of our own citizens who refused to move a muscle to relieve the sufferings of our own wounded and sick, and who were disabled whilst defending their own homes, participated in this ovation to rebellion... [CW]

Query: CORLISS: rebel prisoners

>ITEM #15101

Aug 26, 1863 Media, Pennsylvania (Delaware County) DELAWARE COUNTY AMERICAN

THINGS IN CHESTER. -

ESCAPE OF REBEL OFFICERS. - We understand that two of the rebel officers who have been for some time past in the U.S. General Hospital, at Upland, escaped one day last week. One of them was a nephew of the famous bridge burning rebel, Trimble, and a member of his staff. Some efforts were made to find out their whereabouts, but they have so far proved unsuccessful. Now why these men should have been allowed to escape is a mystery. The general opinion seems to be that they received assistance, either from some secret enemy of the-Government within the hospital, or from some of the notorious Copperheads in the surrounding neighborhood, who have been allowed to visit them so frequently. A change of programme, as to the manner of conducting the hospital is about to be instituted. No admission will be given to any one, except upon official business, or to relatives of the prisoners coming from a distance, who will be required to make application in writing to the executive officer, and to establish their claim of relationship to such prisoner; the guard is to be made more efficient, and the whole place is to be surrounded by a high picket fence. This is all very well and should have been done long ago, but if it should be, as many are-inclined to believe, there is any disloyal person among the officers in Y charge of the place, guards and picket fence will avail but little. We hope there will soon be a change for the better. [CW]

>ITEM #15118

Sep 2, 1863 Media, Pennsylvania (Delaware County) DELAWARE COUNTY AMERICAN

THINGS IN CHESTER. -

MONUMENT TO THE DELAWARE COUNTY PATRIOTS. - The committee who have in charge the matter of laying out the Chester Rural Cemetery have appropriated the most beautiful site in it for the purpose of burying all those from Delaware county who may have served honorably either in the army or navy of the United States. The idea is to erect a monument in the centre of this plat - the necessary funds for which shall be raised by voluntary subscriptions from all loyal persons, to be collected by committees in the different parts of the county. It is proposed that a book, containing a brief biography of each one buried there, shall be kept within the monument. Delaware County should take an interest in the matter and lend a helping hand to the patriotic men who have originated the idea. [CW]

>ITEM #15229

Oct 14, 1863 Media, Pennsylvania (Delaware County) DELAWARE COUNTY AMERICAN

>1'1'hm #151LU

Sep 4, 1863 Chester, Pennsylvania (Delaware County) DELAWARE COUNTY REPUBLICAN

DEPARTURE OF REBEL OFFICERS. - Forty rebel officers left the " United States General Army Hospital at this place, on Monday last, for Sandusky, Ohio. They were well posted, while here, by the Copperhead sympathizers from Baltimore and Philadelphia, who were in daily attendance upon them, and will be ready to give, should they reach their homes, full information as to the plans of their friends in the North. They go to the Fort at Sandusky, where, it is to be hoped, they will be treated as well as the rebels treat Union prisoners at Richmond. Previous to their departure, and while in the cars, Miss Martin and Miss Frances Butler, of Philadelphia supplied them with greenbacks.

Query: CORLISS: rebel prisoners

>ITEM #15180

Sep 18, 1863 Chester, Pennsylvania (Delaware County) DELAWARE COUNTY REPUBLICAN

MORE REBS. - A new batch of rebel prisoners arrived at the General Army Hospital near this place yesterday. They were principally from Gettysburg, and most of them are sick and wounded. [CW]

>ITEM #15184

Sep 23, 1863 Media, Pennsylvania (Delaware County) DELAWARE COUNTY AMERICAN

THINGS IN CHESTER. -

THE PRISONERS. - About three hundred of the convalescent rebel prisoners were removed from the Hospital, on Saturday last, and placed on board a boat to go to City Point, to be exchanged, but when they arrived at Fort Delaware, where they were to take on another lot, the boat had got broken so that they were unable to proceed farther, and not being able to land at the Fort, were obliged to return to this place, and the prisoners were again sent to the Hospital. They were started again on Monday afternoon last. [CW]

Thanks, and a tip of the hat to: