"Camp Parole Sept 8th 1863" dateline on a soldier's letter to his mother in Williamsburgh NY, cover franked with US 1861 3c Rose (Scott 65) tied by Annapolis Md double circle date stamp, disturbing (by today's standards) contents in the letter with "...if they sent back today that We will not exchange unless they would give a n------- for a white man. Probably we will hear in two or three days...", F-VF, interesting letterrnDuring the civil war, to avoid being burdened with large numbers of prisoners, armies in the field would -½parole-+ soldiers that they had captured, releasing them on their oath that they would perform no military service until formally exchanged for prisoners of war held or paroled by the other side. In the early part of the war, many paroled men would simply go home, or elsewhere, not to be found when time came for the exchange. Originally intended as a -½camp of instruction,-+ a camp for paroled prisoners was established near Annapolis, Maryland, in the summer of 1862 and came to be known as Camp Parole. The camp was gradually transformed into a way station for paroled men and exchanged prisoners moving to their homes or to other camps. Many remained as hospital patients until they died or were able to travel. Camp Parole was vacated by July 18, 1865. (Image)

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