Hi: I believe we have had this story before on this list but it doesn't hurt to tell it again. This is from Clif Hinds' misc. file. Regards, Nan [email protected] ----------------------------------------------------------------- Two Letters from a Civil War Prisoner of War courtesy of LDS Microfilm at the LDS Family History Center at Salt Lake City, UT. c/o P. Anthony Fazzini. "The Tragic Story of Thomas J. HINDS. Introduction: by P. Anthony Fazzini? The following typewritten copies of copies of civil war letters were found by me months ago at a relative's house. How they came to be there I have not yet discovered: the persons mentioned in these letters are, I regret to say, not relatives. Except for the adding of a small piece of editing ("sic") and rearrangement of the first two letters in proper order, they are presented as found by me. I also regret to say that I have not found either a picture of Hinds or the original letters themselves. Thomas J. Hinds, according to his military record was born in Dresden, Ohio, on August 9, 1862, aged 24, and by occupation, a farmer. He enlisted in the Union Army at Whiteford, Monroe Cou., Michigan for three years, and became a corporal in "K" Company of the 18th Michigan Infantry Regiment. On January 1, 1864, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. On September 24, 1864, Hinds was captured at Athens, Ala., by forces under the rebel Gen. Forrest's command. After being imprisoned at Cahaba P.O.W. camp, Hinds was paroled on March 22, 1865 at Vicksburg, Miss. Vixburg, Miss, March 25, 1865. My Dear Father and Mother As I have an opportunity of writing to you this morning I will improve it. I got a pass this morning to come to town and am now writing form the Christian Room it is good thing for they furnish paper and stamps for all we wish to write. This is the first time that I have had a sight of this great Mississippi River. It is the greatest wonder how Grant took this place for it is one fortress. We have a nice camp now. We have the shelter tents. We have plenty to eat but have not drawn any clothing yet but will in a few days. There is no talk of us getting exchanged soon. We are only paroled as yet and how soon we will get home or to our regiment. I am not able to say but I hope soon for I am tired of this kind of life. We are under the charge of the Rebel army yet. Lieut. Colonel Henderson from the Rebel army is in charge of us. We can not come to town without his consent. It is hard and in sight of our own flag but maybe it is fair. The reason of the Rebs fetching us here is they could not feed us any more. They are the nearest played out of anything I have seen lately. They are worse than my old shoes and they are good for nothing. I am in hope to see you all if I can get my pays. I shall have now 10 months at dollars besides $50 dollars for clothing. Our time is out in five months from tomorrow the 26th. It will not be long to wait, if I can not come sooner. I have no more at this time, but will write some again . from your son. Thomas J. Hinds copied from LDS microfilm. Vixburg Miss. April 14, 1864(sic) (had to be 1865 - clif) Dear friends at home, once more I will take this opportunity to write to you a few lines on my birthday. I am 27 today. We have had glorious news of late. There is to be a big doing today. There is to be a Salute of 200 guns fired with speaking military parades and company. I have charge of a ward of 40 men. They are all sick from Andersonville, GA. I never saw a poorer lot of men in my life as they were, but most of them are doing well now. There is but three or four, but what can wait on themselves. We have lost one from our ward. He died the next morning after he came in. Their disease is mostly scurvy and diarrhea. Their is talk of our being sent North soon. I hope it may be so. The talk is here the war is played out and we will all go home soon. Lee and Johnston has surrendered their armies and they are coming in here now everyday by the wholesale. I was out to camp the other day. The boys are doing well. There is about 8000 of us here in the vicinity now. I have not heard from home yet. If you write direct to Parole Prison Hospital Ward I Hank Rouge is at the City Hospital nursing the sick boys. I have a lot of Pumpkin Seeds I got at Cahaba. I want to send to you but do not know how to send them. I hate to send them in a letter. They are large pumpkins, the nicest I ever saw. We had nothing but them to eat for two or three weeks last fall. I have not got time to write more now for the doctor has just come and I will have my hands full for a while. So goodbye for this time.. from your Son and Brother. Thomas J. Hinds Copied from the LDS Microfilm Postscript on Letter Written by Thomas J. Hinds From Vixburg, Miss. March 25, 1865 Thomas J. Hinds, who was prisoner of war at Andersonville Prison during the Civil War, was an exchanged prisoner and was supposed to sail on a ship ahead of the "SULTANA;" but he traded places with a friend from his Company who was married, and allowed him to go in his place. Thomas Hinds then sailed on the Sultana which departed on April 27, 1865. The Steamboat Sultana, with exchanged Union prisoners of war aboard, was destroyed on the Mississippi River, seven miles above Memphis by a boiler explosion with the loss of 1,450 men. All records were lost and his fate was unknown until around 1888, when George A. Hinds, brother of Thomas Hinds, lived on Presque Isle at the mouth of the Maume Bay. He heard a cry during the night from the marshlands and went out and found a Frenchman who was lost. He brought him home and during the course of the conversation, the Frenchman learned that George's name was Hinds and he related to George that he was in Tom's company and was on the Sultana with him. They were on the boat by the rail talking when Tom god chilled and went down inside the ship. Then the explosion occurred and the Frenchman was thrown into the water and was rescued while Tom was killed. As told by Harry T. Hinds, son of George A. Hinds and written by Virginia Hinds Greene, daughter of Harry T. Hinds