Maj Howard Borland, CSA *********************************************************** Submitted by: Bill Boggess Date: 21 Feb 2007 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm *********************************************************** Major Harold BORLAND (1835NC-1921AR), CSA, West Point graduate #1887, son of Colonel Solon BORLAND, M D (1811VA-1864TX), nephew and once raised by Dr Euclid BORLAND (1809VA-1881VA) plantation owner since 1847 in Plaquemines parish, Louisiana, 49 miles below New Orleans, with 101 slaves listed 1860 (one, Rose age 107) (see Euclid's, Dec 26, 1862 testimony on same site, search "Borland"). Harold's West Point records show; "...was, August 16 1863, captured aboard the "Alice Vivian" which was endeavoring to run the blockade from Mobile to Havana with 550 bales of cotton. He was held prisoner at Fort Warren, Boston Harbor [6th from left, top row in attached photo], until exchanged October 1 1864." His Arkansas obituary says he was held at Fortress Monroe, Virginia, --- must be where vessel Circassian took him from Boston's Fort Warren for exchange of prisoners. Harold's Arkansas obituary & biography: Therefore, Harold (29) was presumed exchanged for a Major Forbes, captured at Aldie Gap, from Fortress Monroe, Virginia, three months later, appears in Princeton, Dallas county, Arkansas, morning of 30 December 1864, where half sisters Fanny (16) and Mollie (14) lived and were in "...blissful state of mind.", nearly a year following father Solon's Texas death, New Year's Day 1864. ****************** SOURCE: (search, "Borland"or"Circassian") last viewed 21st February 2007. (Page 867 CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. - UNION AND CONFEDERATE.) NAVY DEPARTMENT, September 24, 1864. Rear-Admiral JOHN A. DEHLGREN, Commanding South Atlantic Blockading Squadron, off Charleston: SIR: On the 7th instant I advised you of the intention of the Department to send to you by the Circassian on her next trip all the officers and seamen of the so-called Confederate Navy now imprisoned in the North, with a view to their exchange for our Navy officers in the South. The Circassian, which carries out this communication, will take out some 40 officers and 140 men, the exact numbers not being known to the Department. They embrace all that have any connection, so far as known, with the so-called Southern Navy, excepting such as of their own accord preferred remaining here. A list of the officers is herewith inclosed; also inclose copy of a correspondence that has just passed between this Department and Mr. Mallory, from which you will perceive that there is a mutual desire and understanding for the exchange of all naval prisoners held by either side. (Page 868 PRISONERS OF WAR AND STATE, ETC.) No information of the receipt by Mr. Mallory of the letter of this Department has reached me, but as it was sent to Lieutenant-General Grant, to be forwarded through the lines, it is presumed it reached its destination, and that there will be no obstacle in the way of effecting the exchange of the prisoners now sent down, and of receiving such of ours as are within reach in return. Accompanying this is a list, but not a perfect one, of our officers of the Navy imprisoned in the South. As you are doubtless aware, Lieutenant Commander P. Williams has returned home under parole, and the Department, in view of the contemplated general exchange, considered it unnecessary for him to return. Act. Ensign F. W. Sunburn was also permitted to come home in order to effect an exchange for Acting Master Bnneau, the latter of whom goes out in the Circassian. Acting Master Dillingham has likewise returned with the view to effecting an exchange for a Captain Fowler, who was captured at Sabine Pass. There seems to be no satisfactory evidence of Fowler being an officer in the so-called Confederate Navy, and the Department has not included him in those sent down. Any other equivalent can be given for Acting Master Dillingham. In addition to the Navy officers sent down, there are two officers of the so-called Confederate Army, viz, Major Harold Borland and Major G A Preston. The former can be offered in exchange for Major Forbes, of Boston, who was captured near Aldie Gap. The Department, in a letter to Major Borland, has informed him that he could remain in the Department of the South until an answer is received in reply to the offer, or until Major Forbes should be delivered to you. Major Preston has been sent out with no view to exchange for any specially-named person, but simply in compliance with his request and at the urgent solicitation of Commander William A. Webb. He can be offered in exchange for an equivalent. Both of the Army officers named were captured by the naval forces. Among the prisoners on the Circassian is Francis Hernandez, of Saint Augustine, Fla., who was captured in violating the blockade. He is sent down as an act of humanity, being quite old and anxious to return to his family and friends, and is in bad health. We have in our forts many blockade-runners who have been appealing to the Department to send them with the Navy officers and seamen for exchange, and expressing confidence that they would be received. It is believed that there is or will be a large excess in favor of the South in this exchange of naval officers and seamen, for whom we will have to give equivalents, in accordance with the understanding between this Department and Mr. Mallory. But I have declined to send out the blockade-runners referred to, because we have no assurance that they would be received upon the same footing as the Navy officers and seamen. Most of them were masters of the blockade-runners commanded by officers of the so-called Confederate Navy. If, as I have informed Commander Webb, they will be received for our officers and seamen, they will be sent to you in the Circassian as she comes along on her next trip to the Gulf. You will find among the prisoners several who were recently captured at Mobile, and have just been brought North. Our officers and seamen imprisoned in Texas, and many of whom have been there over eighteen months, deserve our first consideration, and it is hoped the authorities at the South will take the earliest means to place them in our hands. (Page 869 CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. - UNION AND CONFEDERATE.) It will not be necessary to detain the Circassian at Port Royal. The prisoners can be transferred to some other vessel or to some place on shore for safe custody should there be delay in effecting the exchange. The Circassian must return without any delay to resume her regular trips. Major-General Hitchcock, commissioner of exchange, advised me a few days since of the return from the South of Captain Bird, of the army, under parole for the purpose of effecting a special exchange for Captain Murden, late in command of the blockade-running steamer Vicotry. Captain Murden holds an appointment as an acting master of the so-called Confederate Navy. At the request of Major-General Hitchcock, the Department consented that Mr. Murde should be exchanged as an equivalent for Captain Bird, on the condition that an army officer should be returned over to us to give in exchange for one of our navy officers. Mr. Murden is among the number sent down, and you will use him in accordance with the assurance made by Major-General Hitchcock. Very respectfully, &c., GIDEON WELLES, Secretary of the Navy.