Turning Points
in Wisconsin History
A Wisconsin soldier writes a prison poem on envelopes, 1863
Southern beauties: or, captivity of Colonel Coburn's brigade. Written on old envelopes in "Libby Prison."/ by Edwin R.F. Hart, Company C, 22d Regiment Wisconsin Volunteers
Private Edwin R.F. Hart of Bloomfield enlisted in the Union army in August of 1862. Serving in Company C of the 22nd Regiment Wisconsin Volunteers, Hart was captured along with 129 other members of his unit at Thompson's Station, Tennessee, on March 5, 1863. The soldiers were sent to Libby Prison in Richmond, Virginia, one of the most infamous Confederate prisons. Here, Hart wrote a sixteen-verse poem about his capture and prison life on the backs of old envelopes. Dedicated to the men of the 22nd Wisconsin, 19th Michigan, and the 33rd and 85th Indiana, Hart's poem was later published as a broadside.
| Related Topics: |
Wisconsin in the Civil War Era The Iron Brigade, Old Abe and Military Affairs |
| Creator: | Hart, Edwin R.F. |
| Pub Data: | s.l.: s.n., 1863. Wisconsin Historical Society. (01-284 rare books) |
| Citation: | Hart, Edwin R.F. "Southern beauties: or, captivity of Colonel Coburn's brigade. Written on old envelopes in "Libby Prison."/ by Edwin R.F. Hart, Company C, 22d Regiment Wisconsin Volunteers." (s.l.: s.n., 1863); online facsimile at http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/search.asp?id=1206 Online facsimile at: http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/search.asp?id=1206; Visited on: 5/9/2024 |
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