From the Richmond Enquirer, 5/9/1862, p. 2, c. 6

ARRIVAL OF PRISONERS. – Three hundred and nineteen of the prisoners taken by our forces in the recent brilliant engagement near Williamsburg, arrived last evening, at seven o’clock, escorted by a squadron of cavalry, under command of Col. Robert A. Caskie. Over three hundred remain to arrive, who are now on the way. The appearance of those first mention would not give one a good opinion of the physical status of McClellan’s army of the Peninsula; they seemed to be completely broken down, although their pedestrian tour to the city was performed by easy stages, and they were treated as well as the circumstances would allow, both by the escort and the people along the route. As soon as they entered the city, they were allowed to indulge themselves in wayside purchases of bread and cakes, in exchange for which they shelled out a quantity of silver and gold that astonished the natives tremendously. They were quartered in the Libby warehouse prison.

Page last updated on 07/24/2009