The Best Station of Them All: The Savannah Squadron, 1861-1865

32. In the Doldrums

32 in the Doldrums february–March 1864 for the officers at fort Warren, the departure of Doctors freeman and Gibbes deepened their despair. early in their captivity a promise had come from confederate commissioner of exchanges robert ould that at the first opportunity he would get them exchanged. They heard they would be exchanged for the Harriet Lane’s officers, but their hopes were dashed. They heard again and again about “special” exchanges for other officers, but Mr. ould’s magic never worked for them.1 Master Wragg, depressed about his confinement and pessimistic about his future , saw how quickly doctors were exchanged and made up his mind to follow in his father’s footsteps. if he had been a doctor, he wrote his father, he would have been in line for an early exchange.2 Wragg and his father exchanged letters every few weeks. Whenever Wragg wrote, he asked his father to remember him to friends and family in savannah, and he mentioned one person repeatedly, his old navy mentor, lieutenant oscar Johnston.3 Wragg tried to put together a prisoner swap from inside fort Warren. he wrote prisoner of war commissioner William h. chase of his plan to try to get a parole to visit richmond and personally secure the release of a union naval officer for his exchange. it was a bold, innovative, but futile idea. still, chase did respond that he had contacted an aide to the governor of Massachusetts, who said he would ask that a union officer be sent to city Point to exchange for Wragg. But there were others working political connections, and Wragg knew that he was one of a long line of officers living on the same sort of promises. unless something was done for him “by my friends at the south,” this would take months. There were several union naval officers of his rank and like time in grade imprisoned at co- in the Doldrums / 289 lumbia, south carolina. Perhaps his father’s friends in columbia could influence someone there to work out a trade and get him released.4 commandant cabot, having established his authority, began to relax his prohibition against commerce with Boston businessmen. Photographers from Boston began to visit the fort. a group photo was taken outside the casemate—the Atlanta’s officers, savez read, reid saunders, and several others. individual officers had portraits taken in their uniforms. in april the photographer was back, and men with greenbacks were able to have carte de visites made and sent home to loved ones.5 still, complaints about cabot’s authoritarian rule continued. Webb sent an official complaint to secretary Mallory, who forwarded it to his counterpart in the u.s. navy Department. Webb’s letter went through channels, all the way to union commissioner for exchange of prisoners Major General ethan a. hitchcock, then down to commandant cabot. he responded with a spirited defense of his treatment of prisoners, emphasizing their exercise opportunities, the heated casemates, and the luxury of a bed and a blanket for each officer. To captain Webb’s statement : “We are informed officially prisoners are not allowed full rations,” cabot responded that the prisoners knew well that the ration was that of the old army, 27. The Atlanta’s officers (and some friends) photographed at fort Warren. among the notables are, at extreme left with foot on the bench, acting Master Thomas l. Wragg; in back row, centered in doorway, half-hidden, Pilot James fleetwood; to the right of fleetwood (his left), leaning against the door jamb, acting Master’s Mate William McBlair Jr.; rotund and vested Pilot William W. austin; political prisoner samuel sterett; and executive officer Joseph W. alexander. in the front row, to the left with elbows on bench, is bearded Pilot Thomas l. hernandez. To the right, seated and centered between Pilot austin and sterett, is lieutenant charles W. (savez) read. in the chairs are Midshipman John a. G. Williamson (with fanny in his lap) and the Atlanta’s captain , William a. Webb. (Davis, The Image of War.) 290 / chapter 32 “with the exception of two or three articles.” To the complaint that the prison’s mess shorted them on bread, Major cabot explained that any perceived shortage was only because “the bread is so good that some eat more than their allowance . . . and thus may deprive others of their full share.” cabot did allow that there was...