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Captured Blue Devils

In an effort to "give the devil his due" we are presenting proof that occasionally captured Yankees were photographed. Although a couple of them are in chains awaiting trial for their lives, you will see below they were not executed. On the other side of the coin you will notice most of the images of Confederate guerrillas are either taken posthumously or while they were await trail and subsequent execution.

The CDV to the left is an EXTREMELY RARE rare image of two Yankee prisoners, one Captain J J Geer  and the second Lt A. P Collins shown in SLAVE CHAINS awaiting trial for their lives in Jackson Georgia. This is one of a very few images extant, showing men in SLAVE chains. Upon his exchange Geer came home and wrote a book called "Beyond the lines: A Yankee prisoner loose in Dixie."

Andrew P. Collins service record : Residence Niles MI; 26 years old, Enlisted on 9/30/1861 as a 1st Lieutenant. On 12/19/1861 he mustered into "K" Co. MI 12th Infantry He was discharged on 1/7/1865. He was listed as: * POW 4/6/1862 Shiloh, TN * Returned 1/4/1863 (place not stated).

Below is some Gerr's account of his perils from "Beyond the lines: A Yankee prisoner loose in Dixie." Ho-hum!

"In presenting the following narrative of suffering endured while a prisoner in the so called Southern Confederacy, the principal object had in view by the author, is to place before those into whose hands this volume may come, a plain, straightforward, unvarnished account of facts. In regard to the workings and results of that system of human bondage to which our country owes its present difficulties, there have been so many mistaken ideas, statements, and theories, that it has become the duty of every true and loyal man to expose the truth; or, speaking with more correctness, to strip from the hideous skeleton of Slavery all its gaily painted and deceptive cloaks and masks, and to exhibit it in all its ghastly repulsiveness.

It is my purpose in the succeeding pages to narrate simply how, after being captured at the battle of Shiloh, or Pittsburg Landing, I was, on the most frivolous charges, tried for my life before several prominent Rebel Generals, among whom were Bragg and Beauregard; how I was subsequently chained with negro chains and cast into military prisons and common jails; how, escaping from these, and in company with Lieutenant A. P. Collins, I made my way to the swamps; how we lived in these malarious marshes for three weeks; how we were hunted with bloodhounds; how we were assisted by the slaves in our flight, and lastly, how, being recaptured, we spent weary months in confinement, and were finally, released on exchange from our dreadful captivity.

To all those friends who have cheered him since his return home with kind words and deeds, the author begs leave to extend his warmest thanks,--but more especially to Rev. Alexander Clark, Editor of Clark's School Visitor, who revised and arranged the Manuscripts for the press, and to whose scholarly abilities this volume owes so much. He desires also to testify to like kindness on the part of Rev. W. B. Watkins, A. M., and Milo A. Townsend, Esq., of New Brighton, Pennsylvania, whose friendship has laid him under a debt of grateful remembrance.


The second CDV features three members of the CT. 23rd Regt. Infantry--17 of its members were captured by the Confederates and interned at Camp Ford, Tyler, Texas. Two of these officers in the CDV were captured and interned-(1) Capt. Julius Sanford, Company "C" -- Enlisted Sept. 10, 1862--Captured June 24, 1863. --Released July 22, 1864.--Discharged Aug. 8, 1864. (2) Capt. Dwight Hopkins, Company "H" -- Enlisted Sept 2, 1862--Captured June 24, 1863--Released June 22, 1864--Discharged Aug. 9, 1864. (3) George W. Anthony--Company "C"--Musician--Enlisted Aug. 25, 1862--Mustered out Aug. 31, 1863. Men are identified by their names at the bottom of the CDV. Notice their fine, large Texas straw hats. Photo was made by McPherson & Oliver-New Orleans. ©Rick Mack Quantrillsguerrillas.com. "Permission should be requested and agreed to before using this copyrighted essay and or image."

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