Immortal Captives

Immortal Captives:

On August 20, 1864, a group of 600 Confederate officers were taken from Fort Delaware as prisoners of war. The purpose for this removal, to be shipped to Hilton Head, S.C. There they were place in stockades in front of the Union works at Charleston. Placed in the open, they were shelled by their own men, this lasted over a month! There is no record of any being hit by shells, but three died of starvation!

On October 21, after 45 days under fire, the weakened survivors were removed to Fort Pulaski, Ga. Here they were crowded into the cold damp casements of the fort. On November 19 197 of the men were sent back to Hilton Head to relieve the overcrowding. A ration10 ounces of moldy cornmeal and soured pickles was the only food given for 42 days. Thirteen men died at Fort Pulaski and five at Hilton Head.

The remaining members of the Immortal Six-Hundred were returned to Fort Delaware on March 12, 1865, where an additional twenty-five died. They became famous throughout the South for their adherence to principle, refusing to take the Oath of Allegiance under such adverse circumstances.

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