In the case of my relative who was in Point Lookout, His "cards" which compile his military record that I received from the National Archives explicitly told me the battle at which he was captured, the date, where he was held for transfer to PL, the day he was released, where he was released. I take it not everyone's records are so complete. James -----Original Message----- From: Sue <morgana@ghg.net> To: <CW-POW-L@rootsweb.com> Date: Monday, December 14, 1998 7:26 PM Subject: [CW-POW-L] Some ideas when writing queries... >Now I haven't done tons of research about this, but it seems to >me that when you are trying to discover where your family member >might have been kept if he were a POW, I would think the >following would help: > >When and where do you think he was captured? This has some >determination about where he would be sent. A lot of times after >a major battle, previously used facilities may have been >overloaded with the influx, and the prisoners would be funnelled >into new camps or facilities. > > >A lot of camps only were used in certain years. And during 1862, >there were a lot of troop exchanges, and some previously used >facilities were closed until the paroling of soldiers was stopped >and they were re-openned later. One camp in SC, I think, was >used for 18 months over a three year period... > >And remember, not everyone knows where the various units fought, >and usually, not everyone in an entire unit was captured at the >same time..so people might be scattered based on when and where >they were captured. > >So, if we can remember to mention when and where along with >units, we might make connections a little better. > >Just some ideas from the Listowner...anything that can help with >what we know will get more responses...if not now, maybe later >when someone is checking the archives. > >Sue >morgana@ghg.net > >