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Deaths of Prisoners of War
from the 62nd North Carolina Infantry Regiment,
Confederate States of America
Camp Douglas Prisoner of War Camp
Chicago, Illinois







HAYWOOD COUNTY, NC - MILITARY - POW Deaths, 62nd NC Inf Reg, CSA
Deaths of Prisoners of War from the 62nd North Carolina Infantry Regiment, Confederate States of America
Camp Douglas Prisoner of War Camp - Chicago, Illinois

The 62nd North Carolina Infantry Regiment was surrendered by their commanding officer on 10 September 1863 at Cumberland Gap, Tennessee, after which 442 soldiers of that regiment were transferred to Camp Douglas. Forty- four percent of them would die there on Union soil. Their bodies were placed in a mass grave known as The Confederate Mound.

The following roster of those who gave The Last Full Measure in service of the country, is submitted by Marshall Styles marshallstyles@yahoo.com / mstyles1947@yahoo.com, in honor of those who never came home.



Last Name First Name Date Died
 Rank Company
 County
Allen William 1865-5-04 Private E Haywood
Allison James C. 1864-1-26 Private E Haywood
Allman G. G. 1864-7-31 First Sergeant D Macon
Arrington James B. 18642-12 Private G Jackson
Arrington W. P. 1864-8-18 Corporal G Jackson
Ashe Amos 1864-6-23 Private H Henderson
Ashe Marcus L. 1865-1-19 Sergeant H Henderson
Bagwell J. A. 1864-12-20 Private K Transylvania
Bates L. M. 1864-1-30 Corporal D Macon
Benjamin William 1864-6-25 Private A Haywood
Blaine Wilson 1864-7-27 Private D Macon
Blanton G. N. 1863-12-21 Private H Henderson
Boston Jesse 1864-5-29 Private D Macon
Brandle Micajah D. 1865-1-18 Private D Macon
Brown Alney L. 1864-2-15 Sergeant Major C Haywood
Brown Ezekial 1865-6-18 Musician-Fifer G Jackson
Bryan James M. 1864-4-16 Private B Clay
Bryant John C. 1864-12-13 Private K Transylvania
Bryson Milton M. 1864-10-19 Private H Henderson
Bryson Samuel G. 1864-9-26 Private H Henderson
Bryson Smauel W. 1865-4-24 Private H Henderson
Buchanan James W. 1864-5-31 Sergeant H Henderson
Buchanan Leander 1864-3-18 Private H Henderson
Cabe Lawrence B. 1865-3-11 Private B Clay
Cabe Thomas J. 1865-3-11 Corporal C Haywood
Cabe William J. 1865-1-14 Private D Macon
Caldwell Reuben A. 1864-9-15 Sergeant C Haywood
Carpenter Andrew J. 1864-7-24 Private D Macon
Carpenter Benjamin B. 1865-2-15 Private D Macon
Carson James T. 1864-7-28 Corporal G Jackson
Cash Drury 1865-3-01 Private K Transylvania
Chappell Andrew J. 1864-5-5 Private K Transylvania
Chastain Edward 1864-11-20 Private K Transylvania
Chastain Edward 1864-7-29 Private K Transylvania
Clarke James A. 1865-2-27 Private D Macon
Cline Thaddeus C. 1864-3-19 Private D Macon
Cook Solomon 1864-12-11 Sergeant G Jackson
Corn Adam P. 1864-5-19 Private B Clay
Conard Samuel H. 1864-3-06 Private G Jackson
Crawford Samuel C. 1864-1-04 Private G Jackson
Crawford William 1864-12-31 Private G Jackson
Dalton Andrew J. 1864-9-12 Private F Rutherford
Dalton Joseph C. 1864-3-15 Private F Rutherford
Dalton Noah W. 1863-12-5 Private F Rutherford
Darnel Virgil 1864-8-18 Private D Macon
Davenport Charles E. 1863-11-11 Private B Clay
Davenport Sidney S. 1864-10-14 Sergeant B Clay
Deitz Asaph M. 1864-6-21 Private H Henderson
Dills Andrew J. 1865-1-2 Private H Henderson
Dotson John 1865-4-24 Private A Haywood
Dotson Thaddeus 1864-8-9 Private A Haywood
Dunn Joseph 1865-1-21 Private E Haywood
Edney John Calhoun 1864-12-6 Private E Henderson
Elliott A. L. 1864-7-26 Private F Rutherford
Elson John 1863-12-28 Private B Clay
Epley William 1864-8-14 Private F Rutherford
Ferguson Robert P. 1864-9-15 Private A Haywood
Fincher John E. 1864-5-12 Private C Haywood
Flynn William H. 1864-7-30 Private F Rutherford
Fort H. F. 1864-3-15 Private A Haywood
Fowler Elisha L. 1865-2-4 Private H Henderson
Francis John Noah 1864-12-30 Private I Haywood
Francum James A. 1864-4-15 Private B Clay
Franklin Charner 1865-3-10 Private A Haywood
Freeman George W. 1864-9-12 Corporal F Rutherford
Galloway R. M. 1863-11-5 Private K Transylvania
Garten William H. 1864-5-23 Private I Haywood
Grant W. E. 1864-12-28 Private F Rutherford
Gray John J. 1863-10-24 Private D Macon
Green William H. 1864-8-3 Private F Rutherford
Gribble James 1864-4-21 Private D Macon
Griswell John 1864-8-26 Private F Rutherford
Griswell Miller 1864-2-26 Private F Rutherford
Gunter Samuel N. 1864-11-06 Private G Jackson
Gunter William L. 1865-3-29 Private H Henderson
Halford W. F. 1864-2-6 Private F Rutherford
Hancock James 1864-2-12 Private K Transylvania
Hannah Harvey 1864-10-12 Private A Haywood
Hawkins Elihu 1865-1-12 Private G Jackson
Heatherly Solomon W. 1864-2-6 Private E Haywood
Hemphill William N. 1864-12-20 Private G Jackson
Henson Archibald M. 1864-11-18 Private I Haywood
Henson George P. 1864-8-29 Private A Haywood
Herren Cornwell 1864-4-28 Private H Henderson
Hice Bayard T. 1865-1-22 Private A Haywood
Hill Benjamin F. 1863-10-23 Private F Rutherford
Hill G. W. 1863-11-5 Private F Rutherford
Hill J. Q. 1863-12-3 Private F Rutherford
Hill James B. 1864-2-5 Private F Rutherford
Hill William A. 1864-7-30 Private F Rutherford
Holloway James W. 1864-1-11 Private H Henderson
Hooper Thomas P. 1863-12-20 Sergeant G Jackson
Hooper William P. 1864-5-16 Private G Jackson
Hopkins John S. 1863-11-17 Private D Macon
Howell David S. 1864-2-18 Private I Haywood
Howell John N. 1864-8-18 Private A Haywood
Huffman Ranson C. 1864-1-1 Private G Jackson
Hyder Andrew K. 1864-1-30 Private G Jackson
Inman Daniel L. 1864-12-25 Private I Haywood
Inman Joseph A. 1864-4-16 Private I Haywood
Johnson Asaph W. 1864-6-18 Private G Jackson
Jones Alfred 1864-9-15 Private B Clay
Jones Stephen 1865-1-14 Private D Macon
Jones Thomas 1865-3-4 Private B Clay
Jones William R. 1864-4-14 Corporal H Henderson
Justice William M. 1865-5-3 Private A Haywood
Keeter D. A. 1864-2-17 Private F Rutherford
Keeter Ichabod C. 1864-2-4 Private F Rutherford
Leming James H. 1864-12-10 Private C Haywood
Leming John 1865-1-30 Private C Haywood
Long Elisha W. 1865-1-26 Sergeant F Rutherford
Long John F. 1863-11-15 Private I Haywood
Lookadoo ? ? 1863-12-2 Private F Rutherford
Mahaffey Joseph S. 1864-6-10 Private C Haywood
Mason John J. J. 1865-2-28 Private A Haywood
Mason Peter W. 1863-11-29 Private A Haywood
Matthews William D. 1864-10-10 Private B Clay
Mauney George L 1864-9-01 Private A Haywood
Mays John 1864-6-23 Private H Henderson
McCall Champion 1865-1-11 Private E Haywood
McCall Phidilia P. 1864-5-14 Private E Haywood
McCloud James H. 1864-1-19 Private D Macon
McClure William R. 1864-12-18 Private A Haywood
McCracken Doctor S. 1864-7-24 Private A Haywood
McElroy John F. 1864-11-4 Private C Haywood
McGinnis James 1864-1-26 Private F Rutherford
McTaggard David 1865-3-16 Private B Clay
Mease Robert 1864-9-11 Private I Haywood
Melton L. W. 1863-12-8 Private F Rutherford
Messer David 1864-8-11 Private C Haywood
Millard Barney 1863-10-12 Private F Rutherford
Moore Michael 1864-1-12 Private C Haywood
Noblitt Joseph B. 1864-12-28 Private F Rutherford
Orr George 1864-3-11 Sergeant E Haywood
Owens Anderson S. 1864-9-5 Private E Haywood
Owens John K. 1865-2-6 Private E Haywood
Parton Daniel M. 1864-8-27 Private A Haywood
Patterson Elijah 1864-5-5 Private K Transylvania
Pless Asbury 1863-11-8 Corporal I Haywood
Plott Enos V. 1864-4-21 Private H Henderson
Plott Hebron F. 1864-3-13 Private A Haywood
Presnell Andrew J. 1863-10-20 Private C Haywood
Quilliams Benjamin 1864-1-20 Private H Henderson
Raines Robert 1864-12-17 Private E Haywood
Ratcliff Francis M. 1864-1-17 Private C Haywood
Ratcliff James 1865-1-28 Private C Haywood
Reece James 1864-10-14 Private I Haywood
Reeves William A. 1863-10-16 Private E Haywood
Rhea John M. 1864-8-11 Private A Haywood
Roane John R. 1865-2-20 Private D Macon
Roberson John 1864-7-23 Private C Haywood
Roberson William M. 1864-5-21 Musician-Drummer H Henderson
Rogers M. T. 1864-12-2 Private B Clay
Rogers Merritt C. 1864-1-30 Private A Haywood
Rogers William W. 1864-10-19 Private A Haywood
Ruff Silas P. 1864-7-11 Private A Haywood
Rykard Robert H. 1863-9-10 Private K Transylvania
Salmon Walter 1864-3-14 Private F Rutherford
Sanders Matthew 1864-3-26 Private F Rutherford
Scruggs Nathaniel D. 1864-1-20 Private E Haywood
Searcy Adam H. 1864-1-18 Private F Rutherford
Seay Benjamin 1864-9-11 Private A Haywood
Sellers Jacob 1863-10-16 Private I Haywood
Shelton James L. 1863-10-18 Private A Haywood
Shelton Thomas W. 1865-1-7 Private C Haywood
Shepherd Jesse M. 1864-6-19 Private E Haywood
Simpson James B. 1864-2-21 Private E Haywood
Smart Cornelius C. 1864-8-28 Private F Rutherford
Smith Charles L. 1865-3-21 Private C Haywood
Snider Leander 1865-4-24 Private C Haywood
Stafford William 1864-5-15 Private I Haywood
Stamey Frances M. 1864-7-13 Private C Haywood
Thompson Bartlett Y. 1864-6-13 Sergeant D Macon
Thompson John W. 1864-5-10 Private F Rutherford
Thompson Silas G. 1865-2-26 Private F Rutherford
Tramell Craven 1864-5-10 Private K Transylvania
Tritt Lafayette 1864-5-23 Private I Haywood
Turpin Henry A. 1864-12-26 Private C Haywood
Wade George W. 1864-9-29 Private A Haywood
Wade Joseph E. 1863-11-11 Private A Haywood
Wallace Jeremiah 1864-2-18 Private E Haywood
Wallen Archibald T. 1864-9-27 Private F Rutherford
Watson George M. 1863-12-18 Private G Jackson
Watson Jasper 1863-12-9 Private H Henderson
Watson John A. 1865-1-20 Private G Jackson
Webb Lorenzo C. 1865-3-20 Private H Henderson
Whitmire Jackson 1865-1-2 Private K Transylvania
Williams Thomas 1865-1-28 Private B Clay
Wilson Joseph 1864-10-14 Corporal E Haywood
Wood Benjamin A. 1865-5-30 Private H Henderson
Wood G. W. 1865-3-9 Sergeant F Rutherford
Woodruff George W. 1864-11-6 Private K Transylvania
Wooten Elias K. 1865-5-18 Private B Clay
Wooten Lazarus S. 1864-1-29 Private I Haywood
Young James A. 1864-12-5 Private G Jackson

Total deaths by Company and County

Company A Haywood 23
Company B Clay 14
Company C Haywood 18
Company D Macon 19
Company E Haywood 17
Company F Rutherford 33
Company G Jackson 18
Company H Henderson 22
Company I Haywood 19
Company K Transylvania 13
Total Deaths 196
Total Taken Prisoner 442
Prisoner death rate 44%



A letter from Camp Douglas,
dated March 21st 1864, from John Henry Dyer of
 the 62nd North Carolina Infantry Regiment:

"Dear Friends, We take this opportunity of informing you that we are all well at this time. Was hoping that these few lines will reach your kind hand and find you all well. We would like to hear from you all and would like to see you all but we cannot tell when that will be, but one thing we must do and that is prepare to meet in Eternity, for it God permits us to live we will live for the future and we tell you all now that we are determined by the help of God to make our way to a better world. So no more at present, write [unreadable].
Signed Stamey J. Dyer.
Noah is still around."

He didn't know that John Noah Frances, his best friend, would not live to see the end of the year (died 30 December 1864). [The above letter is in the possession of Robert Milner, a descendant of both John Noah Francis and of John Henry Dyer. After his release from Camp Douglas, John Dyer returned to Haywood County, where he resided at Ratcliff Cove until his death on 26 March 1909]





Following is a summary of the history of the 62nd North Carolina Infantry Regiment, CSA, from its creation until the majority of the unit was captured at Cumberland Gap:

The 62nd North Carolina Infantry, North Carolina Troops, Confederate States Army, was organized in Waynesville and mustered into service on the 11th of July, 1862. It drew men to its ranks from Haywood, Rutherford, Clay, Macon and Transylvania counties, and was assigned to the Department of East Tennessee until it was captured, almost in its entirety, at Cumberland Gap, Tennessee on 10 September 1863.

After enlisting, the recruits were sent to Johnson City, TN, arriving on the 1st of August 1862 for drill and training. Lieutenant Colonel B.G. McDowell, one of the commanders, wrote in 1901, "This regiment when it went into camp for drill was without arms, except a few old muskets which were furnished them for drilling purposes. A very small amount of ammunition was furnished. In the fall of 1862, date not now remembered, Lieutenant Colonel Clayton was ordered to Causby Creek, Cocke County, Tennessee, to help suppress an uprising of disloyal citizens there. It seems that some conscripts [draftees] and deserters had been turned out of the Waynesville jail by their friends. Sheriff Noland while pursuing them was killed on Noland or Utah Mountain, three miles northeast of town. The Sixty Second, badly armed and equipped as it was, presented a formidable and war-like appearance. The outlaws were killed, captured or scattered."

Its first Command assignment came on 31 October 1862 in the Third Division of the Army of Kentucky. In late December of that year, they were assigned to guard the railroads in the area, remaining there until 20 February 1863 when they went into camp at Greeneville in Greene County, Tennessee. Their Brigade assignments changed from the Second Brigade, its initial assignment, to A.E. Jackson's Brigade in March, then to the Fourth Brigade in late April. Those who were not captured at Cumberland Gap regrouped and were reassigned to the District of Western North Carolina on the first of January, 1864. The final reassignment took place in December 1864 to the Mountain District, Department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia. During the period of service that the 62nd North Carolina Infantry Regiment saw prior to the Cumberland Gap episode, they participated in a number of engagements and operations, the first being against Union supporters in nearby Cocke County, Tennessee, just across the state line from Warm Springs (now Hot Springs), Madison County, from the 6th to the 16th of October, 1862, and also at Cataloochee and Big Creek in Tennessee. The mission for the week between Christmas Eve, 1862 and New Year's Day, 1863, was to move against Union troops moving into the eastern part of Tennessee, an area very heavily pro-Union. They fought at Union, Watauga Bridge, Carter's Station and Carter's Depot in that region. The Regiment's activities were very light - possibly even inactive, from the first of January, 1863 until June 14th, when they moved to thwart an East Tennessee raid by a Union regiment commanded by a man named Saunders; this operation at Knoxville and Powder Springs Gap lasted about 10 days.

In mid-August, Union General Ambrose P. Burnside was ordered to concentrate his forces in East Tennessee. The 62nd North Carolina, among others, was sent to the defense, but were overwhelmed and captured at Cumberland Gap, Tennessee on the 10th of September, 1863, thus ending the fighting for 442 soldiers of the 62nd North Carolina.



An account from Official Records of The War of the Rebellion, Series III, Volume II, 1863, United States Government:

"Brigadier General John W. Frazier, CSA, after his surrender at Cumberland Gap reported that his disaster was forced, amongst other reasons, by the quality of the troops he commanded, saying the 62nd North Carolina was very indifferent, being badly disciplined and hardly drilled. The Colonel was absent, soon after resigned, and became an open advocate of reunion. One Captain was in arrest for disseminating papers hostile to the Confederacy, and the regiment of four hundred and fifty men was commanded by the Major." Lieutenant Colonel B.G. McDowell had this to say about Frazier's comments, "I have noticed in Brigadier General Frazier's report, of his disgraceful surrender of Cumberland Gap, he refers to this regiment as at one time having been commanded by its Major (referring of course to this writer), and as having been surrendered BY him to a gang of Yankee scouts, or raiders. A more unblushing falsehood was never penned by living man.

"I was there with three companies of poorly armed men, with no means of defense and absolutely helpless. In this condition these three companies were surrendered, And yet, the gallant General Frazier has me surrendering this whole regiment to a Yankee scouting party. Frazier was in command at Cumberland Gap when the surrender of that stronghold occurred on 9 September 1863. The force we had at the Gap was insignificant when compared with the Federal forces, but the surrender of the Confederate forces was a shame and disgrace, when the situation is fully understood. The opportunity of General Frazier to have evacuated the Gap and saved his command from a long imprisonment and death was open, and nothing but treachery, or cowardice, or it may be both, could have led to the unconditional surrender. The writer has read the report as given by Gen Frazier and wondered if an opportunity would be offered for the vindication of our men from the miserable slander against them in his attempt to shield himself from public censure. It affords me pleasure now to say that men never behaved with more coolness and courage than did the 62nd Regiment. Stalwart men actually cried like children when they found that they were surrendered without defending their right and reputation."



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This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Marshall Styles



Music playing is "Danny Boy" sequenced by a talented
Haywood County donor who wishes to remain anonymous.




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Becky Howell