On Memorial Day of 1897 a strange memorial day was held at the Ohio Pen., in Columbus, Ohio. 79 former Civil War soldiers were allowed to participate on that day outside of their cells but within the walls of the Prison. 62 were former Union soldiers and 17 were former Confederate soldiers. According to the newspaper "The Ohio State Journal" these were the former Confederates from Georgia.

1) David Owens; Phillips Legion Company B

2) Henry A. Towles 1st Regiment Georgia Infantry (Olmsteads) Company K

3) Paten M. Lawman 39th Georgia Company G

4) Lawshe (Daddy Skene) 19th Georgia Company A

5) W.S. Johnson 26th Georgia Company C

The article also stated that one Mexican War Veteran was also allowed to attend and his name was Henry Campbell. It would appear they did not believe in early releases.

Those that died at the Ohio Pen. as a rule did not receive a headstone at the turn of the century. If at least 5 former Georgia Confederates were in prison in Columbus, Ohio in 1897, I wonder how many were in prisons elsewhere across the North? Not to mention the South.