Location of the Plymouth Pilgrims at Andersonville, GA
Although it is impossible to know the exact location of the individual regiments, we can narrow down to a general location of the Plymouth Pilgrims within the 26 ½ acres of Andersonville.
Over 20 years ago, Robert Porter, descendant of Private Samuel W. Porter, Co. H, 101st PA, showed me an Andersonville print where Private Porter put an “X” where his shelter was located. It was on the north side of the stream about halfway across the stockade. During every visit I have taken to Andersonville since then, I gravitated to that location. Was this just the location of the 101st PA or all of the Plymouth Pilgrims?
The following account of the 16th CT states that a particular tent was “located by the side of the ravine.” This would place it on the north side of the stream and about the middle of the stockade.
The Hartford Daily Courant, Wednesday, March 14, 1906
SIXTEENTH C. V. AT ANDERSONVILLE
“… The bulk of prisoners in Andersonville were without shelter, having nothing to protect them from the heat or storm. One of the first things which the members of the Sixteenth undertook after entering Andersonville was the preparation of shelter of some kind. Small oaks not larger around than one’s wrist and from five to six feet in height were secured through the rebels. These were split in two and the halves sharpened at both ends. They were then curved and fastened in the ground, making a kind of frame work to be covered with army blankets. A tent of this description was generally better than the ordinary shelter tent that was used when the army was in the field. The blankets were stretched over the ribs of oak and fastened to the ground by wooden pins that were whittled out for the occasion. Sometimes these tents were made large enough for eight men. But in most cases six men was the maximum number. One of the large tents, which was located by the side of the ravine, was owned and occupied by First Sergeant Roland Levaughn, Robert H. Kellogg, Samuel H. Belden, Burton Hubbard, John W. Loomis, Ira E. Forbes, William Maxwell, Henry S. French, all of Company A, and First Sergeant William O. Levaughn of Co. C, who was the brother of Roland Levaughn. Five of the number died in the prisons at Andersonville, Charlestown and Florence. The survivors are Kellogg, Loomis and Forbes.”
The following is the best description of the Plymouth Pilgrims’ location I have located to date.
The National Tribune, July 22, 1909
Account of Private Charles A. Storke, Co. G, 36th WI Infantry.
“… I remember the first night, when I sought a place to lie down on the earth. I was driven from one place to another by those who had previously pre-empted that spot, and finally found a place to sleep among the Plymouth pilgrims, whom, you may remember, were located on the north side, about halfway across the stockade upon the little street leading from the north gate.”
The following cropped sketches made by Robert K. Sneden support this location.
I feel pretty confident, with the available sources, that this is the general location of the Plymouth Pilgrims. Their camp may have extended past the center of the stockade and closer to the East wall (the far right of this photo). Hopefully further information on this subject will be uncovered in the future.
Edward Boots, Pres. CWPPDS