The Nov. 29th Wilmington Star News reported that Mike Taylor, Library director of the Pender Co. Public Library and president of the Burgaw Depot Historic Preservation Association has been doing some research on a large prisoner exchange that took place at the site during the waning days of the Civil War. His organization is raising money to renovate the station.
A new marker was erected by the Civil War Trails program recently.
General Grant had decided to stop prisoner exchanges towards the end of the war. Exchanged Confederate soldiers soon found their way back to fighting forces.
After Fort Fisher fell in January, 1865, it was another month of operations before Wilmington was captured.
As Sherman's army was approaching, 6,000 Union prisoners at Florence, SC, were sent north and exchanged for Confederate prisoners at Burgaw. The Confederates turned over 1,400 Union prisoners a day during one stretch, including 120 black soldiers. By March 4th, 9000 prisoners had been exchanged.
And I Didn't Think There Were Any Prisoner Exchanges After 1864. --Old Blockade-R
The Battle of Fort Fisher, N.C.
