Description:

Exceedingly Rare! Captured by Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest after Streight's Raid a day earlier, a Union soldier signs a Prisoner's Parole, swearing that "I will not bear arms against the Confederate States Government ..."

Exceedingly Rare Partly Printed Document Signed "B.A. McCormick, " 1 page, 8" x 3.25". Rome, Georgia, May 4, 1863. Completed in manuscript. Minor flaws. Printed in Rome, Georgia, on the field. Headed: "PRISONER'S PAROLE." Professionally conserved and deacidified. Very Good condition. In full, "I. B. McCormic [sic] prvt of Co. A 51 Ind regt inft of the United States Army captured by BRIG. GEN. FORREST, solemnly swear before Almighty God, the Sovereign Judge, that I will not bear arms against the Confederate States Government, nor help, aid, or assist either directly or indirectly, any person or persons , in making war against the same, until regularly exchanged as a prisoner of war, and that I will not, at any time, communicate to any person information received within the Confederate lines, detrimental to the same. Sworn and subscribed to before me ..." Signed "Rome Ga May 4th 1863 / J M Crews / A Insptr Genl."

Accompanied by a certificate, 8.5" x 11", issued in Washington, 1884, certifying McCormick's enlistment and discharge (tears at edges); a Certificate of Service, 10" x 8", Washington, 1889 (fine condition); and a printed reproduction of a handwritten letter, 5.5" x 8.5", from Gen. Lew Wallace dated November 27, 1902, sent to Civil War veterans who wrote to him.

Berryman A. McCormick (1841-1908) was one of over 1,500 Union soldiers captured by Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest on May 3, 1863. Abel D. Streight was Colonel of the 51st Indiana Volunteer Infantry Regiment. In April 1863, he led his men of his 51st Indiana, 73rd Indiana, 3rd Ohio, and 18th Illinois, from Nashville, Tennessee, on what has been known as "Streight's Raid." The raid ended on May 3rd with the capture of Streight and his command by General Nathan Bedford Forrest.

From History of the Fifty-First Indiana Veteran Volunteer Infantry by William R. Hartpence (published 1894): "Notwithstanding Forrest's most sacred promise, made in the terms of surrender, no sooner were our troops turned over to the rebel authorities, than a system of robbing was instituted, which soon relieved our boys of everything of any value in their possession. Blankets, knapsacks, haversacks, overcoats, money, side-arms, colors and everything ... The next day the command was marched under guard to Rome. The citizens were delighted to see the boys, and thronged the streets to greet them. The prisoners stayed in the town till Tuesday morning, May 5, under orders of Forrest; enduring every insult that such a low, ignorant, unprincipled, ill-born people only could invent. The vile creatures crowded around the cars, the women flaunting themselves in the most indecent manner; and all boasting of the superior chivalry of the South ..."

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