Hello Mike:

First, let me "second" Art's recommendation that you get a copy of Captain Joseph Henry DALE's Compiled Military Service Records from the National Archives, or through the Military Records Research Service that supports these Civil War Message Boards. While much of what appears in Booth's "Records" was obtained from these CMSR, Booth's archivists sometimes left out interesting details. The CMSR may (or may not) contain images of the actual Oath of Allegiance certificate.

According to Booth's "Records", Captain Joseph Henry DALE, Co. I, 15th Louisiana Infantry was captured on 20 OCT 1864 at Woodstock, Virginia and received at Fort Delaware on 5 NOV 1864 from Harper's Ferry. Fort Delaware Society records show that he was promptly admitted to the Fort Delaware prison hospital and treated until 13 DEC 1864 when he was released to the prison barracks. He was housed in "Division 33" which was a barracks room of about 100 men in the Officer's pen out on Pea Patch Island.

Captain DALE took the Oath of Allegiance at Fort Delaware on 17 JUN 1865 under the terms of General Order No. 109. This conforms with other records that the Fort Delaware Society has accumulated. Based upon diary records of other POWs present at the time, it appears that he was not released until 19 JUN 1865 because the boats had not returned from Baltimore and Philadelphia to move more of the former POWs out. Check out my "Going Home Time Line" on the Fort Delaware Society website for more details. [Click on "Website Directory" and scroll down to the "Time Line" hyperlink.]

The first paper that Captain DALE and others signed appears to have been a muster roll or roster containing the words of the Oath of Allegiance to which he and others had verbally sworn, hands raised, while standing in formation outside their POW barracks. The second item he had to sign was a certificate containing the Oath which he was given upon release to take with him. This would certify to Union Army Provost Marshals and Quartermasters encountered en route home that he had been properly released from POW camp, and was entitled to government transportation by water and rail to a point nearest his home. He also had the option, under G. O. #109 to take the Amnesty Oath, after first taking the Oath of Allegiance. A copy of this certificate (perhaps a copy of both) would have been given to him upon departure.

I have not personally searched Ancestry.com's new Civil War records database, but there is a chance you might find an image of the Oath of Allegiance muster roll dated 17 JUN 1865 at Fort Delaware there as well.

Keep us posted on what you learn. The Fort Delaware Society has an archives folder containing all that you have previously shared with us.

Hugh Simmons
Fort Delaware Society
Society Website: www.fortdelaware.org
Society E-mail: society@fortdelaware.org