Andersonville Prisoner Profile
Code No: 12584
Grave No: 2584
Last Name: WHITE
First Name: CHARLES B.
Rank: PRIVATE
Company: H
Regiment: 1
State: KY
Branch of Service: CAVALRY
Date of Death: 6/27/1864
Cause of Death: ANASARCA
Remarks: C. B. WHITE [2]; C. WHITE [3]
Reference*: P 15 [3]; P 30 [432]
Place Captured: PHILADELPHIA, TN
Date Captured: 10/18/1863

Status: DIED AT ANDERSONVILLE
Andersonville, or Camp Sumter as it was officially known, was one of the largest of many Confederate military prisons established during the Civil War. It was built early in 1864 after Confederate officials decided to move the large number of Federal prisoners kept in and around Richmond, Virginia, to a place of greater security and a more abundant food supply . During the 14 months the prison existed, more than 45,000 Union soldiers were confined here. Of these, almost 13,000 died from disease, poor sanitation, malnutrition, overcrowding, or exposure to the elements.
Today, Andersonville National Historic Site is the only park in the National Park System to serve as a memorial to all American prisoners of war throughout the nation's history. The 515-acre park consists of the historic prison site and the National Cemetery. Congress stated in the authorizing legislation that this park's purpose is "to provide an understanding of the overall prisoner of war story of the Civil War, to interpret the role of prisoner of war camps in history, to commemorate the sacrifice of Americans who lost their lives in such camps, and to preserve the monuments located within the site". In 1998 the National Prisoner of War Museum opened at Andersonville, dedicated to the men and women of this country who have suffered captivity. Their story is one of sacrifice and courage.

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Charles B. White joined the First Kentucky volunteer Cavalry, Company "H" with his brothers, Isaac W., James T., and Johnson L. White. They fought side by side to preserve the union that their ancestors had helped to create. "Wolford's Cavalry" chased Morgan's riders when they invaded indiana, finally chasing the troop back to Kentucky.

Charle s was a day laborer on a farm owned by Richard and Emily Christerson when he volunteered for the Calvalry. While on leave he married Amanda on June 18, 1863 in Washington County, Kentucky. Amanda had a son, Charles W. on March 16, 1864 while her husband was away at war.

On October 20, 1863 he was captured at Philadelphia, Tennessee with Isaac and James. He and Isaac were sent to the infamous confederate Andersonville Prison in Andersonville Georgia. Isaac was one of the last prisoners exchanged. Charles died of starvation on July 27, 1864, and is buried there. Unfortunately, he never knew he had a son. Amanda married Jefferson F. Johnson on Sept 18, 1866. Nothing further is known about Charles's son.

At the beginning of the war, both sides freely exchanged prisoners after the captives gave their word that they would not fight again during the war. However, the rebels immediately returned to their units or other units and took part again. The north finally realized they could never win unless they kept the captured rebels in confinement. They felt the war would be shorted this way.



This story was researched by: Hazel White, Edith Groseclose Harvey, Carl Adrian Harvey II, Doris Phelps, Billy and Roxie Day Pinnick