On August 20, 1864, a group of 600 Confederate officers were taken from Fort Delaware as prisoners of war. The purpose for this removal, to be shipped to Hilton Head, S.C. There they were place in stockades in front of the Union works at Charleston. Placed in the open, they were shelled by their own men, this lasted over a month! There is no record of any being hit by shells, but three died of starvation!
On October 21, after 45 days under fire, the weakened survivors were removed to Fort Pulaski, Ga. Here they were crowded into the cold damp casements of the fort. On November 19 197 of the men were sent back to Hilton Head to relieve the overcrowding. A ration10 ounces of moldy cornmeal and soured pickles was the only food given for 42 days. Thirteen men died at Fort Pulaski and five at Hilton Head.
The remaining members of the Immortal Six-Hundred were returned to Fort Delaware on March 12, 1865, where an additional twenty-five died. They became famous throughout the South for their adherence to principle, refusing to take the Oath of Allegiance under such adverse circumstances.
From the Diary
of Capt. Jonas A. Lipps,
Captain of Company “H” 50th Virginia Infantry, one of the 600
War of 1861 to 1865
September 3, 1864: On board of the steamer Crescent in front of Moris Island near Charleston, South Carolina. The flag of truce boats passed near the ruins of Fort Sumpter.
September 10, 1864: In prison, a prisoner of war between battery Gregg & Wagoner, here under the fire of the batterys in retaliation exposed to shells from the Confederate battery and during the day there has been no shells thrown on this Moris Island by the Confederate batterys during the past day, but the Yankees has fired several shots in the fore noon, one about 2 o’clock in the night, there were several shells thrown on Moris Island which were replied to by Jones. General Foster visited this prison about 10 o’clock and the batterys remained silent during the day, and our rations is two crackers three times a day with some 2 oz. of meat. We are situated ___________________________
September 11, 1864: On Moris Island held in retaliation exposed to the shot and shell of the Confederate baterys there has been some shells fell near here from the C. S. batteries. There has been no fireing from our batterys since day light.
September 12, 1864: Held with six hundred Confederate officers on Moris Island in retaliation as prisoners of war for the sake of the independence of the Southern people, there has not been any shell thrown here by the C. S. batterys, the U. S. batterys have been fireing slowly during the day.
September 13, 1864: On Moris Island between battery Gregg & Wagoner. There were no fireing from the C. S. batterys during the day, the U. S. battery fired slowly and were fireing during the night and were replied to by the U. S. batterys frequently.
September 14, 1864: On Moris Island between battery Gregg & Wagoner held in retaliation with six hundred officers, all prisoners of war. There has been several shots thrown from batterys Gregg & Wagoner and has been replied to but very seldom.
September 15, 1864: Yet on Moris Island under fire. The U. S. Battery has thrown several shot into Charleston but has been replied by the C. S. batterys at this point but seldom. The health of the officers has been exceedingly good since the convoy since August 20 from Delaware.
September 16, 1864: On Moris Island under fire. There has been several shot & shell exchanged here during the day. The government of the U. S. issues the following rations Breakfast 1 cracker, 1 ½ oz meat, dinner, 1 spoonful rice, 1 ½ oz meat, supper 2 crackers, 1 ½ oz meat.
September 17, 1864: Under fire on Moris Island under retaliation orders in every respect. Crackers drawn for supper were eat entirely full of holes and full of worms and bugs. There was some fireing during the day past. Fine weather and in hope of Dixies fair climes here. J. A. Lipps
September 18, 1864: On Moris Island, South Carolina under fire. There were some shot & shell exchanged today. The six hundred officers are in good health considering diets, water, etc. Crackers rotten, worms and bugs tetotally drawn all the substance from the crackers. In health. J. A. Lipps
September 19, 1864: On Moris Island under fire. There has been some rain here during the night past and also this morning. Rations is very small to sustain health and comfort by any means. 3 hard crackers per day.
September 20, 1864: On Moris Island under fire between batterys Gregg & Wagoner. There has been several shots & shell exchanged as usual heretofore, though there has been no shot that has fell in this prison. The night past whilst in my dosing I had a vision of past boyhood life which brought facts plain in my mind of the passing away of friend, Brother Jessees family and ___________________
September 21, 1864: On Moris Island the forenotes has give the particulars of the day. In good health by the help of God. Must make a note of my vision on last night more than ever experienced before in my dreams, I had a view of being at the assembly of my fathers family prayers and that I had a view of the solistial home in heaven which I rejoiced in my sleeping dose. The view was beautiful for the hope of Mortal man. Surviving on this earth having the view death and departure of this life all viewed beautiful and inclined to go for the reward that is not made by hand of Mortal man but in his reach by humble submission before him who is able to save from all danger and the way is strait and may be found by the umbleness of man by faith.
September 28, 1864: Under fire on Moris Island. There has been a flag of truce not received here as usual. Some shot & shell past the Dixie Battery has been more seldom than usual before.
September 29, 1864: On Moris Island under fire, held yet in retaliatory orders, situated in small A Tents, four officers to a tent since the 7th of this inst. The health of the officers is fine for the treatment.
September 30, 1864: On Moris Island under fire.
October 1, 1864: On Moris Island under fire. Held in retaliation as prisoner of war. Several shells was thrown from the C. S. Battery bursting near battery Wagoner.
October 2, 1864: On Moris Island under fire. The weather is very warm.
October 3, 1864: On Moris Island under fire. There has met at 9 o’clock a.m. a flag of truce boat and parted at about 2 o’clock p.m. or between 2 & 3.
October 4, 1864: On Moris Island between batterys. Gregg & Wagoner under fire. Several shots have been fired from the batterys Gregg & Wagoner.
October 5, 1864: On Morris Island under fire between batterys Gregg & Wagoner. There was express received here today by truce flag from Charlotte, smokeing & chewing, potatoes, bacon, bread, etc.
October 6, 1864: On Moris Island under fire there was several shots & shell exchanged from battery Wagoner commenced about 9 o’clock kept up till 10.
October 7, 1864: On Moris Island under fire. A very heavy rain fell about day break. The air cooled off very much. Several shots & shells by battery Wagoner.
October 8, 1864: On Moris Island under fire. There has been fireing during the day. The air is quite cool for the Southern Coast today after the rain, yesterday. The Priest were in the pen today and served the mass or sacrement.
October 9, 1864: On Moris Island under fire. The past night was quite cold though no frost yet. Battery Wagoner fires regularly about every 10 minutes on this Island U. S. Battery.
October 10, 1864: On Moris Island, South Carolina under fire in retaliation held by the u. S. as prisoners of war. There has been several shots fired as usual from U. S. batterys Gregg & Wagoner, also the swamp angel. Day is very warm, nights cool.
October 11, 1864: On Moris Island, South Carolina under fire. There was a heavy cannonading took place between a U. S. Moniter and the C. S. batterys, the mointer attempting to pass Sumpter.
October 12, 1864: On Moris Island, South Carolina under fire. There has been several shots & shells thrown during the day and night. No shell fell in the prison.
October 13, 1864: On Moris Island, South Carolina under fire. We have been drawing one half a pint of corn meal musty, one half pint of rice with a very small piece of meat for a days rations. There has been several shots fired today.
October 14, 1864: On Moris Island, South Carolina under fire. There has been several shots fired from different batterys. Rations; 4 ½ hard tacks, rice and soup without a particle of salt and has been so for several days.
October 15, 1864: On Moris Island, South Carolina under fire. Numbers of shot have been thrown in or at Charleston City, South Carolina. One half pint of corn meal musty, Do. Rice without any salt for rations.
October 16, 1864: On Moris Island, South Carolina under fire. There was several shells thrown as days heretofore. The rations have been increased to 5 hard tacks per day. Vinegar has been issued.
October 17, 1864: On Moris Island, South Carolina under fire. There was several shells bursted near this pen on last evening. The pieces of shell fell in this, though there was not one officer hurt as yet.
October 18, 1864: On Moris Island, South Carolina under fire. A wet, dreary day has past; the consolation is good health. Yet, we are confined to our tents and men pretend yet hoping for relief.
October 19, 1864: On Moris Island, South Carolina under fire. There has been several shots & shell exchanged. A number fell in this pen at the explosion. There is and has been for some time 3 _____ of falty ______on the rate of this prison. (Diary ends here)
He was a prisoner of war at Ft. Pulaski, GA from October 23, 1864 to March 4, 1865 and was returned to Ft. Delaware from March 12, 1865 to April 6, 1865 when he died at the age of 24, from scurvy. He is buried at Finn’s Point National Cemetery, Salem, New Jersey. From the Wise County, VA Death Register, page 7, line 10: Jonas A. Lipps, was born 1841 in Russell Co., VA, son of Morgan T. and Elizabeth Lansdowne Lipps. He died April 5, 1865 at Fort Delaware. He was listed as being 24 years, 4 months and 27 days.
On June 17, 1930, John W. Litton, who was a Confederate soldier made the following declaration concerning Jonas Lipps from his home in Dryden, Lee County, VA:
During the battle of Fort Donaldson, Captain Lipps and his company, together with Captain John Johnson’s Company, of Lee county, Virginia, was cut off from the main body of the Confederate Army, and they marched through the country in an easterly direction toward Virginia, and met their command at some point east, not known to the narrator, and by their march through the country, saved their companies from being captured. In June, 1862, the said regiment was then placed under the command of General Louring and sent back to West Virginia, and in the fall was placed under General Roger A. Pryor.
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