"Raising the White Flag: How Surrender Defined the American" Topic

…Civil War

"The American Civil War began with a laying down of arms by Union troops at Fort Sumter, and it ended with a series of surrenders, most famously at Appomattox Courthouse. But in the intervening four years, both Union and Confederate forces surrendered en masse on scores of other occasions. Indeed, roughly one out of every four soldiers surrendered at some point during the conflict. In no other American war did surrender happen so frequently.

David Silkenat here provides the first comprehensive study of Civil War surrender, focusing on the conflicting social, political, and cultural meanings of the action. Looking at the conflict from the perspective of men who surrendered, Silkenat creates new avenues to understand prisoners of war, fighting by Confederate guerillas, the role of southern Unionists, and the experiences of African American soldiers. The experience of surrender also sheds valuable light on the culture of honor, the experience of combat, and the laws of war."

Main page
link

Amicalement
Armand

"In no other American war did surrender happen so frequently."

Fort Washington--3,000
Saratoga--6,000
Charleston--5,500
Yorktown--7,500

That's not to mention Savannah, King's Mountain, Cowpens or Trenton. I found an officer yesterday who was captured and exchanged three times--only once as the result of a major engagement. I suggest the author contemplate the relative size of field armies and reconsider.

"Never surrender !"

"Never give up!"

Welllll … maybe a tactical withdrawal … ? Sometimes …

I have read several thesis and dictorial papers where the author's drew the conclusion that a turning point in the ACW was when the north changed policy and no longer exchanged PoWs.
Before that time it was not unusual for groups to be captured on the battlefield and left to guard themselves until the battle had calmed down enough for them to be escorted to the rear to await exchange.

Talking of other wars, I have found artwork from the 1700s and 1800s to show prisoners just sitting on the side of the road watching the enemy file by. In some cases they are within feet of a main enemy General with no attempt being made to attack enemy officers or destroy their equipment.

ok

Amicalement
Armand

Hear an in-depth interview with the author on Civil War Talk Radio: link