Walter Cool was one of the citizen prisoners held at Johnson's Island prison during the Fall and Winter of 1862. Walter was captured in what is now Webster County WV and was tried and convicted in a military trial held in Clarksburg VA/WV. He was sentenced to hang but was instead sent to Camp Chase and then onto Johnson's Island. On the 18th of December 1862, he was sent to Vicksburg Mississippi for exchange. There were a total of 770 men onboard the steamboat CHARM when Walter was exchanged on the banks of the Muddy.
Walter never made it home. No knowledge is known of his resting place or what happened to him. He had been elected sheriff of Webster County VA/WV in 1860 and was a wealthy man. Was he too ill from his time spent in Federal prisons, or had the Yankees robbed him not only of his health, but also of his pride?
Thousands of men were imprisoned at Johnson's Island. Reports give varying amounts, some 10,000 and some as many as 15,000 men. They all had one thing in common. They were trapped hundreds or even thousands of miles away from their beloved homeland. Trapped in a place so foreign and so bitterly cold that it truly was a frozen Hell at times. Many attempted to escape and very few did. When the lake waters froze solid, some attempted to flee across the ice to Canada. I would imagine the thought of being shot on sight did not compare with the temptation of freedom, fleeting as it was.
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Lieutenant James Ernest Taylor was a POW at Johnson's Island where he arrived on April 22nd 1865. He had originally enlisted with the CSA in Richmond VA on July 2nd 1861. His service was with Co. G 21st VA Infantry which was part of the 2nd Brigade.
Lieutenant Taylor was captured on April 6th 1865 after the Battle of Saylors Creek in Amelia County VA. He was held at Johnson's Island from April 22nd 1865 till he was released from there on June 20th 1865. No further records after his release have been found.
Contributed by Mrs. Mary Chidester, 2nd great niece of the Lieutenant.
1 st Lieutenant James H. Chappell enlisted in the 23rd NC Regiment Co. D.(known as the Pee Dee Guards) In May 1861 in Rockingham NC, he as severely wounded and was then captured on July 1st 1863 at the Battle of Gettysburg. His brother stayed behind to nurse him on the battlefield and was also captured.
Lt. James H. Chappell spent the rest of the War as a POW at Johnson's Island Prison. He died of old war wounds on January 6th 1884.
Contributed by his Great Grandson Mr. Mark McKenzie
J.T. Duckworth was a LT. with Co B 46th Mississippi and was captured at the Battle of Franklin. He was sent to Johnson's Island prison as a POW and was there for the duration of the War. After release, he went back to his hometown of Ora Mississippi. He is pictured here in his militia uniform of the Covington County Rebels.
Submitted by his 2nd great grandson Kirby F. Warnock.
LT. J T Duckworth before he left to defend Vicksburg
