Civil War Archive Pertaining to Camp Letterman and the Release of a POW 

Lot of 4 letters related to the release of Pvt. George L. Hadley, 3rd Alabama (POW Gettysburg).

Camp Letterman was a series of field hospitals established by both sides in the vicinity of the Gettysburg Battlefield. Dr. Henry Janes, Surgeon, US Vols., was left in charge of the hospitals, many of which were in churches, barns, schools, and private homes. On July 5, the number of soldiers who were too seriously wounded to be moved with their respective armies was 20,995 - roughly 2/3 Union and 1/3 Confederate. Under orders to establish a general hospital at Gettysburg, Janes set about doing that, selecting a site that was elevated, so it was well-drained and caught cooling breezes. It was well-treed, providing shade as well. As soldiers could travel, they were moved to the rail depot and sent home or to other military hospitals in the eastern cities. Janes was left with a little over 4,000 seriously injured men that he consolidated into his selected area. They set up everything from cook tents to surgical tents to mortuary facilities, as well as residential quarters for patients and staff. By November, only 100 remained.

One of those in the Confederate camp was George L. Hadley. Hadley was a native of South Weare, NH, born in 1841. For reasons that are not clear, he moved to the south some time about 1859. Thus when the Civil War broke out, he ended up enlisting in the 3rd AL Vol. Infy. He was wounded, apparently seriously, at Gettysburg. He appears to have been one of the last remaining soldiers there when the camp was broken up at the onset of winter.

The first letter [South Weare, NH, Nov. 22, 1863] is to Dr. Janes from John L. Hadley, George's father. He asks Janes to intervene on behalf of his son. He has written me of the kindness manifested towards him by yourself and other Union surgeons,...[and] I have received letters from Mrs. Mary C. Warden and Mrs. Hannah Weltz speaking in high terms of his good deportment and manifesting great interest in his welfare....For the interest taken by yourself and others in his favor, I am truly grateful. I have further to ask that if he is not released before the Hospital at Gettysburg is broken up, that you will continue to exert your influence in his favor. He has always been a kind and dutiful son. For more than two years we were cut off from all communication with him - now providentially left within our lines, it seems hard that he cannot be permitted to return and visit the home of his youth, his mother, sisters and brothers whom he has not seen for over four years.

It takes a month, but Janes does write to his superiors when he arrives in Washington, DC [Dec. 21, 1863]. I have the honor to call your attention to a communication from Private George L. Hadley, Co. H. 3d Ala. ... desiring to be released on taking the oath of allegiance. I have every reason to believe that Hadley is Union & that his friends & sympathers are Union. During his stay in Gettysburgh [sic] his conduct was exemplary....[I am] willing myself to vouch for his future good conduct. 

A few days later [Dec. 31, 1863] George again writes to Dr. Janes: I am still here, in [the] charge of the Prov. Marshal, and have heard nothing relative to the disposition that is to e made of me.

The final note is on letterhead of the Office of Commissary General of Prisoners, Washington, DC, dated Jany. 6, 1864, to Dr. Janes: In reply to your communication of Dec. 21/63, I am directed by the Comsry Genl. of Prinsoners to inform you that the care of Private Geo. L. Hadley Co. H 3d Ala. Regt., a prisoner of war, had been submitted to the Secretary of War by whom it has not been favorably considered.

Private Hadley apparently got home some time in the next few months, however. New Hampshire shows a marriage record for a George L. Hadley, father John L. Hadley, to Clara Ham, age 23, on 11 Oct. 1864. Apparently Clara did not survive long (childbirth and epidemics were real concerns at the time). There is a second marriage recorded for George on 16 March 1869 in Deering, NH, to Carrie F. Forsaith. In the 1870 census, the household in Weare consisted of George L., Caroline F. (Carrie?), and Sarah L. Hadley, the latter listed as age 4. In all likelihood Clara died in childbirth, leaving George with a young daughter, an unfortunately all too common event in the 19th century.  There is a record of George L. Hadley dying 11 May 1875, but the cause is not clear. He would have only been about 34 years of age.

Some light toning, especially along folds. Dr. Janes' letter with a bit of edge scuffing and chipping, but still readable.