The Civil War "Plymouth Pilgrims"
"A Plymouth Pilgrim"
from Andersonville: A story of Rebel Prisons, by John McElroy, 1899
The only known explanation for the origin of the "Plymouth Pilgrims" nickname for the Union soldiers captured at Plymouth, NC comes from a story passed down through the family of David Mullin, Captain of Co. G, 101st PA. According to the story, the soldiers, after their surrender, were marched single file to stack their rifles and due to their slow and somber walk, a Confederate commented that the prisoners looked like "a bunch of Pilgrims on their way to church" and that their "offering" was their rifles.
The obvious reason for their resemblance to the Mayflower Pilgrims was their hats. According to Wayne Mahood's book, The Plymouth Pilgrims, pg. 142: On June 15 [1863], the Division drew regulation hats, "much to our disgust. They are black felt, stiff rims, one side cocked up with a brass spread eagle to keep it in place". For those of you who have seen this hat, it does look similar to the hats worn by the Mayflower Pilgrims. The regulation hat is commonly referred to today as the "Hardee" hat. It's obvious that the soldiers didn't care for this hat due to the fact that very few images can be found with "Plymouth Pilgrims" actually wearing these hats. However, they were required to wear them by General Wessells and from battle accounts, we know that the soldiers were preparing for dress parade on Sunday the 17th and were probably wearing them when the battle began.
The first time the "Plymouth Pilgrims" nickname appeared in print was in the Charleston (SC) Mercury on the 26th of April 1864. The article reads as follows, "THE PLYMOUTH PILGRIMS - We learn that the 2500 Yankee prisoners, captured by General Hoke's forces at Plymouth, left Wilmington last night, and may be expected to pass through Charleston this evening, on their way to the Prison Depot at Americus, Ga."
It's obvious that the Plymouth Pilgrims were a distinct group of soldiers, much different than the average soldier. They wore the regulation hat at a time during the war when it wasn't very common to have them and their "stylish new uniforms" included veteran chevrons for those who had recently re-enlisted. They obviously stood out wherever they went and drew large crowds along their trip to Andersonville.
When they entered Andersonville, John McElroy describes them in his book Andersonville: A story of Rebel Prisons, pg. 168: They were attired in stylish new uniforms, with fancy hats and shoes; the Sergeants and Corporals wore patent leather or silk chevrons, and each man had a large well-filled knapsack, of the kind new recruits usually carried on coming first to the front, and which the older soldiers spoke of humorously as "bureaus". They were the snuggest, nattiest lot of soldiers we had ever seen, outside of the "paper collar" fellows forming the headquarter guard of some General in a large City. As one of my companions surveyed them, he said: "Hulloa! I'm blanked if the Jonnies haven't caught a regiment of Brigadier Generals, somewhere."
Edward Boots portraying QM Sgt Edward Boots - A Plymouth Pilgrim
This would be the typical uniform worn by the Plymouth Pilgrims.
Notable Plymouth Pilgrims
AUBREY, Peter - Corporal, Co. G, 2nd MA Heavy Artillery. Chief of Police at Andersonville. Photo
BLAKESLEE, Bernard F. - 16th CT Infantry. Author of History of the Sixteenth Connecticut Volunteers. In 1882 he was elected President of the National Union of Survivors of Andersonville and other Southern Military Prisons.
BRADLEY, Patrick - Private, Co. H, 2nd MA Heavy Artillery. Prosecuting attorney at the Raiders trial in Andersonville. Served as a witness at the Wirz trial. Elected to be the first President of the Andersonville Survivors Association in 1865.
BROWN, Jacob D. - Corporal, Co. D, 101st PA Infantry. Served as a witness at the Wirz trial.
BURFORD (BUFORD), Reuben - Private, Co. B, 103d PA Infantry. Probably the first soldier from the 103d PA to die at Andersonville. Died 4 June 1864.
COOPER, Alonzo - 1st Lieutenant, Co. F, 12th NY Cavalry. Author of In And Out Of Rebel Prisons.
DICKEY, Luther S. - Corporal, Co. C, 103d PA Infantry. Authored History of the 103d Regiment PA Veteran Volunteer Infantry.
GOSS, Warren Lee - Sergeant, Co. H, 2nd MA Heavy Artillery. Author of The Soldier's Story, Recollections of a Private and Jed- A Boy's Adventures in the Army. In 1875 he was elected President of the National Union of Andersonville Survivors.
JOSEPH, Newton - Private, Co. B, 103d PA Infantry. Killed In Action May 29, 1862 during Battle of Fair Oaks / Seven Pines, Virginia. Evidently died at close range as his forehead was crushed by a blow from a musket while on picket line. First man in the regiment killed by a Confederate soldier. Buried at Seven Pines Cemetery, Seven Pines, Virginia.
KELLOGG, Robert H. - Sergeant Major, 16th CT Infantry. Served as a witness at the Wirz trial. Author of Life and Death in Rebel Prisons. In 1878 he was elected President of the National Union of Survivors of Andersonville and other Southern Military Prisons.
LONGENECKER, Jacob H. - Adjutant, Co. D, 101st PA Infantry. During 1885 & 1886 he served as President of the National Association of Ex-Union Prisoners of War.
MOESNER, August - Private, Co. G, 16th CT Infantry. Served as a witness at the Wirz trial.
REED, John A. - Private, Co. H, 101st PA Infantry. Author of History of the 101st Regiment PA Veteran Volunteer Infantry.
SPRING, Andrew - Private, Co. E, 16th CT Infantry. Served as a witness at the Wirz trial.
SMITH, Mason C. - Corporal, 24th NY Independent Battery. Died 12 May 1864 of Typhus Fever in the hospital at Andersonville, GA. Grave # 1039. First soldier to die at Andersonville from the 24th Battery; only twelve days after arriving.
SULLIVAN, Dennis - Private, Co. K, 101st PA Infantry. Died 14 May 1864 at Andersonville, GA. Grave # 1105. First soldier to die at Andersonville from the 101st PA; only two weeks after their arrival.
TUNNICLIFFE, John - Private, Co. G, 2nd MA Heavy Artillery. Wounded & captured 20 April `64 at Plymouth, NC. Died 8 May 1864 of his wounds at Andersonville, GA. Probably the first Plymouth Pilgrim to die at Andersonville.
WARD, Sheldon - Private, Co. E, 2nd NC Union Volunteers. First confirmed death at Andersonville of a 2nd NC soldier captured at Plymouth. Died on or about 24 May 1864.