J. Ogden Murray facts for kids
John Ogden Murray (born 1840, died 1921) was an important person during the American Civil War. He served as a major in the Confederate Army. After the war, he became an author and a newspaper editor. He is known for creating the phrase "Immortal Six Hundred." He also wrote a book about his experiences as a prisoner of war. The Virginia Museum of History and Culture keeps a collection of his writings.
Contents
Who Was John Ogden Murray?
John Ogden Murray was born in 1840. He grew up to become a soldier. During the American Civil War, he joined the Confederate Army. He rose to the rank of major. This means he was a leader of many soldiers.
A Writer and Editor
After the war ended, Murray used his experiences to write. He wrote a book about what it was like to be a prisoner of war. This book shared his personal story. He also worked as a newspaper editor. This job involves deciding what news stories to print.
The "Immortal Six Hundred"
John Ogden Murray is famous for a special phrase. He created the term "Immortal Six Hundred." This phrase refers to a group of Confederate prisoners. They were held in a difficult situation during the war. Murray's words helped remember their story.
Prisoner Exchanges During the Civil War
During the Civil War, both sides sometimes exchanged prisoners. This meant soldiers captured by one side could be sent back. In return, the other side would send their captured soldiers back. This was a way to get soldiers home.
Murray wrote about these exchanges. He mentioned that a major exchange plan stopped in July 1863. This was because of disagreements over who could be exchanged. This especially concerned African American soldiers. Even though official exchanges stopped, some generals still arranged smaller, unofficial ones.
His personal writings and scrapbook are now part of a special collection. You can find them at West Virginia University's library. These papers include newspaper articles written by Edward H. Sims around 1949. These articles were based on Murray's own book.
