Description:

Civil War
Annapolis, MD, November 18, 1862
Civil War Paroled Prisoner Pass
Document

Original Civil War-era Paroled Prisoner Pass issued at Annapolis, Maryland in 1862 authorizing limited movement for a paroled Union soldier during specific hours, likely while awaiting official exchange under the newly formed prisoner protocols of the time. The document is boldly signed at the top by Lt. Col. George Sangster, who served as the Commanding Officer of Paroled Prisoners at Annapolis. The pass includes instructions to guards and handwritten notations regarding time. The document measures 8" x 3.25".

This document was issued during a pivotal time in the Civil War when the Dix–Hill Cartel, signed in July 1862, had just established a formal system for the parole and exchange of prisoners between Union and Confederate forces. Annapolis, Maryland, became a major hub for processing these paroled soldiers. Thousands of Union troops who had been captured and later released by Confederate forces were sent to Camp Parole, located just outside Annapolis, where they awaited formal exchange or reassignment.

Lt. Col. George Sangster was placed in charge of managing this complex and often chaotic system, overseeing the welfare and conduct of thousands of parolees. His signature on this pass authorized a prisoner's limited mobility while under Union custody, reflecting the administrative structures put in place to manage wartime honor-based systems of parole.

Significantly, this pass was issued two months before the Battle of Antietam, the bloodiest single-day battle in American history. Fought in nearby Sharpsburg, Maryland, Antietam resulted in over 22,000 casualties and created a surge in paroled and wounded soldiers, further straining facilities like Camp Parole. The battle also gave President Abraham Lincoln the political momentum to issue the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, redefining the Union's war aims.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 8" x 3.25".
  • Medium: Document

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