TreeAlive

Camp Elder Civil War Paroled P.O.W. Camp

Chester County · dedicated 2013 · Oakbourne Rd. & Trellis Ln., Westtown Twp.

After the July 1863 Battle of Gettysburg, over 2,000 Union prisoners were held at a makeshift camp here, awaiting exchange for Confederate prisoners. Retreating armies often issued battlefield paroles to captured enemy soldiers, who were then held by their own army. The community welcomed these men and tended the injured for several weeks until the Federal government declared the paroles invalid and returned the prisoners to their regiments.

David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries

Marker data: Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission via data.pa.gov

See your own family's places through time.

Start with your family tree