Columbia Military Prison
Deaths of Union Officers
|
| No | Full Name | Rank | Unit | Co | Date Died | Where & When captured |
| ??, Harry | Lieutenant | Oct/Nov | ||||
| Bender, William H. ( W. P. ) | Captain | 123 Ohio Infantry | I | 8 Oct | 15-Jun-63 @ Winchester, VA | |
| 4 | Eckings, Thomas K. ( C. K. ) | Lieutenant | 3 New Jersey Infantry | A | 08-May-64 @ Spottsylvania, VA | |
| 2 | Fairfield ( Fairchild ), Otto B. ( O. P. ) ( L. D. ) | Lieutenant | 89 Ohio Infantry | B | 8 Nov | 00-Sep-63 @ Chickamauga, GA |
| 3 | Flansburg ( Flamsburgh ) (Hansbury ), David | Captain | 4 Indiana Battery, Light Artillery | 22 Nov | 20-Sep-63 @ Chickamauga, GA | |
| Francis, John L. | Captain | 135 Ohio Infantry | F | 3 Oct | 03-Jul-64 @ Wilderness, VA | |
| 1 | Halderman ( Hulderman ), John | Lieutenant | 129 Illinois Infantry | D | 13 Nov | |
| Henderson, John H. | Lieutenant | 14 Illinois Infantry | D | 04-Oct-64 @ Acworth, GA | ||
| 7 | Jackson, John | Lieutenant | 4 Indiana Cavalry | I | 21 Nov | 07-May-64 @ Wilderness, VA |
| Jackson, Robert W. | Lieutenant | 21 Wisconsin Infantry | C | 20-Sep-63 @ Chickamauga, GA | ||
| Kauff, Jairus | 2nd Lieutenant | 143 Pennsylvania Infantry | I | 31 Oct | Wilderness, VA | |
| Parker, Robert Bates ( Edward B. ) | 2nd Lieutenant | 1 Vermont Heavy Artillery | B | 13 Oct | 23-Jun-64 @ Petersburg, VA | |
| 5 | Spafford, Ara ( Asa ) ( A. C. ) | Lieutenant | 21 Ohio Infantry | C | 14 Oct | 20-Sep-63 @ Chickamauga, GA |
| Stahf, D. Andrew | Lieutenant | 49 Pennsylvania Infantry | 26 Sept | |||
| Turbayne, George | Lieutenant | 66 New York Infantry | F/C | 17-Jun-64 @ Petersburg, VA | ||
| 6 | Wenrick, James E. | Captain | 19 Pennsylvania Cavalry | E | 08-Apr-64 @ Memphis, TN | |
| Young ( Youniz ), Alvin George | Lieutenant | 4 Pennsylvania Cavalry | F | 24-Jun-64 @ Yellow Tavern, VA |
Note: I am quite sure that more than these 17 officers died in Columbia than these but have no records to list. The drawing made in Feb or March 1865 indicates maybe 20 or so headstones but there could have been more or some not marked, It is a drawing and the rubble in the background purports to be the remains of the camp. Every POW Report I have read states they burned the camp before they were moved into the State Lunatic Asylum. Contrary to the Harper Weekly statement, most appear to have died of disease (yellow fever), the reason the POW's were moved from Charelston to Columbia. Know exceptions are Lieutenant Parker, who was mauled by blound hounds in a failed escaped attempt, and Lieutenant's Young and Turbayne, who were shot for being too close to "dead line". Union officers claim thet were no closer than others had been or were but the CSA soldier was not disciplined or rewarded. I feel reasonably certain these were the only non-diesae deaths at Columbia. First hand reports state that there was plenty of random firing into the camp, especially at night, but I have not other reported deaths. It may have been done to keep their "heads down". There is an account that there "many" men buried when they first arrived from Charleston and shortly thereafter, with no proper markings being allowed But only Lieutant Stahl appears to have been buried in that period. My feeling is that there were more who died and their graves and names are known but to God. I have been criticizied for a lighter touch on my site and I accept that as valid. I am a native Columbian and have probably at least one great great grandfather who served here as a guard. I am feel neither pride nor shame for that fact. From all my readings, this was not a bad POW Camp for the period, But nothing can be sadder than the death of any man, especially a man fighting for what he believes is right, who ends his life in a POW camp. The frustration must be unbearable. For that reason, I have listed these men as a group, in addition with the other POW's. They deserve special notice for the total price paid.
If you have any information about these or any other officers who were
imprisoned in Columbia, please contact me at