|
Search this group's discussions
|
Help with an Andersonville prisoner
|
James W. Landon
In the mid-1890s, Special Examiner A.G. Greenstreet investigated the case of James W. Landon, late of the Fifth Iowa Cavalry, who claimed that he had suffered a gunshot in the left thigh and was captured by Confederates along the Chattahoochee River near Atlanta in the summer of 1864. Landon further stated that this wound caused a partial paralysis of his leg. Greenstreet became suspicious of the paralysis claim after learning that Landon had been badly injured in his left ankle after a fall from a hay wagon in the early seventies. A skeptical Greenstreet made a preliminary investigation, and recommended that Landon's case be formally investigated.
The investigation request was granted, and Greenstreet opened the case in 1895. He interviewed a number of witnesses, including several of Landon's old army buddies and neighbors — and Landon himself. Landon's twelve page testimony includes minute details of the circumstances surrounding his wounding that I have found no where else. Landon explains that his regiment was routed near Newnan, Ga., on July 31, 1864. In the disorderly retreat that followed, Landon and two comrades — both enlisted men — became separated. For four days they struggled to get back to Union lines, hiding by day and traveling at night. At one point a Confederate patrol spotted them, and during this event Landon received his wound but evaded capture. On August 4, Landon and others were spotted again and this time were taken prisoner. The three men were sent to Andersonville Prison. At some point after this, they became separated. Landon was later transferred to Camp Lawton before being paroled at Savannah in November 1864. Landon survived the ordeal and returned to his regiment. The other two men were also released from prison: Landon W. Silcott (note his first name — a coincidence?) of Company B died of disease at a military hospital in Annapolis, Md., on Dec. 29, 1864. John S. Lemmon served in Company D and went on to become a first lieutenant.
The reference to Andersonville is of particular interest: Landon's military service record makes no mention of his having been imprisoned there, although it does note his stay at Camp Lawton. Landon does not appear on the official list of Andersonville prisoners. Lemmon's name is also not on the list. However, Silcott is a confirmed Andersonville prisoner.
That Landon and Lemmon are not confirmed as prisoners is worthy of further study. It is possible that the details of their capture and imprisonment have escaped notice (until now). My next step is to request the military service and pension records for Silcott and Lemmon to get a fuller picture of their wartime experience. If I am able to find enough evidence, I will bring it to the attention of the folks at Andersonville.
If you have any information about Landon, Lemmon or Silcott that supports or refutes their Andersonville experience, please leave a comment.
Oh, and I am grateful to Special Examiner Greenstreet: Without his quest for truth and justice, it is very possible that Landon's story might have been forever lost to history.
Posted at 6:54AM, 30 August 2008 PDT
(permalink)
|
|
A few questions:
1. If they became separated from their unit in the vicinity of Atlanta; is it known where they were captured four days later?
2. What criteria was used to send Union POW’s to Andersonville as opposed to another Confederate Prisons? Were all POW’s from the route of the Fifth Iowa Cavalry sent to Andersonville?
3. Any chance his name was originally (at Andersonville) written as “London”, Landen, or any other type of transcription error? Is the official list available on-line? Have you viewed the original records or relied on transcriptions?
4. Could the wound in his leg have caused him to be sent to a hospital (other than Andersonville’s) before being sent to Andersonville Prison and thus causing a mix up in documentation?
5. Are there any records of all the men who were transferred out of Andersonville to other camps late in 1864? If so can the other men who were transferred with Landon to Camp Lawton provide an alternate records trail back to Andersonville?
Originally posted 46 months ago.
(permalink)
David C. Foster (a group admin) edited this topic 46 months ago.
|
|
|
All good questions. Some answers:
1. Not sure where they were captured other than the area of Newnan, which is south and west of Atlanta.
2. The situation in Georgia was fluid at that time as Sherman's forces dominated the northwestern part of the state and were close to taking Atlanta. The rest of the state was beginning the process of mobilizing for the expected fall of Atlanta. I've not found a formal criteria for prison assignment other than proximity to where the soldiers were captured and space available — which in this case is none, as Andersonville was already overcrowded. Camp Lawton, on the other hand, was physically a larger prison, but housed fewer soldiers. So, it makes sense that Landon would have been sent there due to Andersonville's huge population.
3. Searched all the variations I could think of, but no luck! However, this is my second case of a unconfirmed Andersonville prisoner: Several years ago, while researching the life and military service of Darwin King of the Fourteenth New York Heavy Artillery, I found several references in his pension file to his imprisonment at Andersonville, including affidavits by his comrades. King's name was not on the official list, so I contacted the authorities, who suggested I send copies of all the materials I had collected to them. They reviewed the information and added King's name.
4. He states in his pension file that he was never treated until receiving a parole and being sent North to a military hospital in Annapolis, Md. By that time the wound was mostly healed, and he was treated with a salve or mustard plaster.
Posted 46 months ago.
(permalink)
|
|
|
Is there any chance you can find a time range when he entered Andersonville (+ or - a week) and see the original un-transcribed records?
Posted 46 months ago.
(permalink)
|
|
|
Based on Landon's testimony, it is likely he arrived at Andersonville in the middle of August. After the fall of Atlanta in early September, many prisoners who were mobile were moved to Camp Lawton in Millen, Ga., or Florence, S.C. Landon would likely have been mobile at that time, for he had only been at Andersonville for two to three weeks at most. He also notes in his pension that he became separated from Lemmon and Silcott, which suggests they may have stayed behind at Andersonville or have been transferred to Florence. Also, Landon notes that Silcott died after three weeks in prison. This is incorrect, as Silcott didn't die until December after his release. It is possible that Landon later heard that Silcott simply had died of disease, and assumed that he had died in prison.
Silcott's widow and Lemmon filed for pensions after the war, and I plan to see them. My hope is that Lemmon mentions his stay at Andersonville and that he was with Landon and Silcott.
Posted 46 months ago.
(permalink)
|
|
|
Update: Visited the National Archives yesterday and reviewed the military service and pension files for Silcott and Lemmon. Like Landon, both of these soldiers had prisoner of war documents (a government form printed on a thin piece of paper measuring about 3.5 x 11 inches that gives basic details of the soldier's capture and interment) in their military service files that did not mention Andersonville — including Silcott, who appears on the official Andersonville list.
The pension file for Silcott, filed by his widow (who gave birth to his son, Landon Wilson Silcott Jr. while he was in prison) makes no mention of Andersonville. It is focused on her needs as a widow. Lemmon's file contains one reference to his having been in Andersonville.
My next step is to make copies of all the Lemmon and Landon papers that mention Andersonville, then send them to Andersonville with request that they review the documents, and determine if the two soldiers should join Silcott on the list.
Posted 45 months ago.
(permalink)
|
|
|
What was the quality of record keeping at Andersonville during the war?
Posted 45 months ago.
(permalink)
|
|
|
I understand from former Andersonville Lead Park Ranger Joan Stibitz that the rolls are revised as soldier cases come to light. A text block on the Civil War Soldiers & Sailors System suggests that the records are updated: www.itd.nps.gov/cwss/prisoners.htm
Posted 45 months ago.
(permalink)
|
|
This is an incredible story to me, mainly because it is very possible that Landon Silcott Sr. was my great-great-great grandfather!
What I do know is that Landon Silcott Sr. was of service age during the Civil War and did serve in it. I have come across records that indicate that he may have died young and left a son named Landon Jr. to a wife by the name of Melissa Carey.
Landon Jr. lived until the turn of the century, fathering my great-grandfather Roy Silcott, who in turn fathered my grandfather Cecil. My father even remembers stories about "grandpa Lanny".
We have family pictures of Landon Silcott Jr, and the family resemblance is undeniable. Supposedly, there is a soldier portrait of Landon Sr. in his Civil War garb, but the contradiction to the above story is that this portrait shows him in a Missouri militia uniform! I hope to obtain that photo at some point to settle this story.
I'll post back if I come up with more info, or I'd love to hear from anyone who has some for me.
Thank you,
Arn Johnson aj@arnjohnson.com
Posted 43 months ago.
(permalink)
|
|
|
Please do keep us informed and we would love to see the photo of Landon Silcott Jr.
Thanks
David
Posted 43 months ago.
(permalink)
|
|
|
Wow! Thanks for the information, Arn! According to Landon W. Silcott's pension file, his wife is named Melissa — which matches your family record. His military service and pension files, located at the National Archives in Washington, D.C., contain a wealth of information that will likely help you in your search for details.
I am curious to know any family stories you may have, and to see the photo you made reference to.
Posted 43 months ago.
(permalink)
|
|
|
It is official: The names of James W. Landon and John S. Lemmon have been added to the List of Andersonville Prisoners, I learned in a letter from a park guide at the Andersonville National Historic Site and a follow-up email from Lead Park Ranger Kim Humber. They join their comrade, Landon W. Silcott, with whom they were captured in 1864.
Posted 42 months ago.
(permalink)
|
|
I have a few questions regarding the Special Examiner A. G. Greenstreet; he was my great-grandfather. He went on to become a medical doctor in Seattle, but in 1895 he was living in Washington DC working for the government (before returning to university).
How would and who would have appointed a Special Examiner to Landon's case? What agency would have overseen this investigation? Would that examiner have been investigating in Iowa, based in Iowa, or would they have been assigned in DC from a government office?
Posted 32 months ago.
(permalink)
|
|
|
Hi Becky,
All great questions! I can tell you that the U.S. Pension Bureau was its own federal agency, created to deal with veterans after the war. The bureau handled pension until 1930, when the Veteran's Administration was formed. The VA took all the open cases at that time.
I do not know how one qualified for the role of special examiner. However, the cases I've read always involve direct communication with Washington.
Hope this helps,
Ron
Posted 31 months ago.
(permalink)
|
Would you like to comment?
Sign up for a free account, or sign in (if you're already a member).
|
|
Veterans of the American Civil War /
Discuss
Feed – Subscribe to Veterans of the American Civil War discussion threads