Customer Reviews

Unlikely Allies: Fort Delaware's Prison Community in the Civil War

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With stories of men dying of disease, succumbing to the elements and living life from mouthful to mouthful one would think that Fort Delaware was indeed the "Andersonville of the North". In its heyday over 16,00 men were held prisoner on this lonely island known as "Pea Patch" with more than 30,000 Confederates passing through its gates in just over three years. Yet, the true story of life behind the stockade walls was lost to history, until Mr. Fetzer and Mr. Mowday came together and published "Unlikely Allies". By using newly found primary source material the reader gains insight into the lives of those who had to eke out an existent on the island.

Prior to the 1760's no written account indicated that there was any stretch of land in the middle of the Delaware River. However, around the same stretch of time, local legend has it that a sailing vessel loaded with peas ran aground on an uncharted shoal and spilled its contents into the Delaware. These peas found the small mud flat to their liking and took root upon the shoal and pea patches began to sprout. As they continued to grow so did the island, giving rise to the local name Pea Patch.

During an expedition to the area, Maj. Pierre Charles L'Enfant, chief engineer of the U.S. Army looked out over the Delaware River and settled his gaze upon the small bit of exposed mud and sand, he came to call "Pip Ash" Island. After his brief exploit to the island he wrote on 16 May 1794 to the secretary of war: " . . .went to the Pip Ash a bank forming an island opposite Eagle and Reedy Points. This pass should be well armed . . . I recommend a fort on Pip Ash, and batteries at New Castle . . .." He further noted, " . . . it cannot be questioned but that pass may be well armed, and that proper works erected there would protect the whole bank." So, with the wheels of defense set in motion, this desolate strip would be transformed in a community that survived all that Mother Nature threw at them, but the name Pip Ash was forgotten and the name Pea Patch stuck.

In knowing little about Fort Delaware, and going off what I've briefly read I had come to the conclusion that it was a harsh and bitter prison, but in reality life was just about the same for the guards as it was for the prisoners. Aside from the status of being labeled a prisoner, most everyone on this little island was held captive. Life was not pleasant but it was tolerable. The death rate among POWs was equal to the death rate from disease among civilians. Yet, life was not as bitter as stated by previous residents. True, some guards were ill mannered but overall the background of material presented in this work shows that the guards handed out humane treatment in most cases. In looking at the words of one prisoner, a Reverend Handly, he tells of comrades hanging by their thumbs, acute starvation, and enforced labor, yet his wife was allowed to come to Pea Patch and take up room and board at Mrs. Patterson's Inn and eventually visit with him. Not too bestial if you ask me.

This is a well-written and researched work on Fort Delaware. The authors put together sound research mirrored with quality writing to give the reader an enjoyable journey into the past. Cover to cover the reader will discover that human interest has been successfully merged with historical research. This work reads well, was hard to put down, and did not drag on into over exacting details and logistics. I highly recommend this book to anyone curious about fortifications and prisons during the Civil War.

This book was absolutly amazing. I am very interested in the Civil War, and only knew some basic facts about Fort Delaware. I have visited the fort, which is open to the public as a Delaware State Park, and was amazed. I met Mr. Fetzer and he is an incredible man, as are the rest of the reenactors there. The book is an extension of the knowledge I recieved during my visit. The way the book was orginized was ingenious. I am amazed at all the fascinating things that went on at Fort Delaware, as I am with the different kinds of relationships and personalities the officers had. The island became a city, and it is amazing to me the circumstances which the people on Pea Patch Island during the Civil War had to deal with and the events that occured. This is an absolutly wonderful book. I read it several weeks ago and have since reread it several times. I have reccomended it to my own friends. I am sure you will enjoy this book as I have. My complements to Mr. Fetzer as well as Mr. Mowday.

I read the book unlikly allies,which i thought was very well written by Herr Fetzer. He truly has written a book, that is perfect for anyone who asks "Can you tell me about Fort Delaware" This book does tell you basically everything you want to know about fort delaware and what went on with the people who lived their lives on that island. this book should be number 1!

Having lived in Delaware all my life I was surprised to see a book about Fort Delaware during the Civil War - there has never been one and I truly thought Fort Delaware was a back water facility. I received this book as a birthday present and, frankly, am not what you consider a history buff. But when I started I could not put it down. It was fascinating - I had no idea that all this stuff happened in my own back yard. The book is obviosly well researched and extremely well written. This information is also new...the authors really went out for the research and tell a story of hope and survival and compassion. I think that everybody should read this book. I consider it a ground breaking study...I truly hope more books will be written by Mr. Fetzer and Mr. Mowday.

Fetzer has written and interesting and well researched book on Ft. Delaware, located on Pea Patch Island in the Delaware River.

For the Delaware enthusiast, this book will fascinate. For the Civil War buff, this book provides an interesting view of post life and northern prison administration -- topics not well covered in the popular literature.

Pea Patch Island was recognized as a crucial spot on which to construct a down river defense to America's great port at Philadelphia as early as the Revolution. Then bureaucracy, sloth and quabbles over funding delayed construction of this "vital" defensive bastion for more than half a century. It must be recognized though, that this was no easy constructin job. Pea Patch Island is a low lying mud deposit without solid foundation. The fort eventually came to rest on more than six thousand timber pilings, all of which had to be driven by pile drivers of the 1800's.

Immediately upon it's occupation, prisoners of state and then surrendered Confederates began arriving and Ft. Delaware's historic mission -- wholly unintended -- as a major Union prisoner of war camp was realized.

What Fetzer does well is provide this neglected story with some flavor and detail. We learn about the constructin of the Fort, daily life of both prisoners, guards and attendant civilians, the personalities who commanded, built or were remanded to the fort and the way in which Ft. Delaware did its duty in the Civil War.

Fetzer provides some interesting details and analysis. I had never known how the island got its name, an interesting story that Fetzer tells. Significantly, those who view Ft. Delaware as "the Andersonville of the North" will be enlightened and realize that while death was a possibility in such crowded conditions among the South's often diseased and malnourished troops (they arrived that way), the death rate was not even close to that realized in the South's prisoner of war camps. In addition, the commanders at Ft. Delaware provided covered housing, fresh water, regular meals, medical care and a camp hospital -- features all lacking or practically useless at the real Andersonville.

All in all, this is an iteresting little book and a must for anyone who collects Delawareanna.