Dr. Isaac Swett was a physician and farmer who fought in the Civil War. In 1863 his Ohio regiment was in Winchester, Virginia where he contracted measles and pneumonia and was very ill. Isaac wrote to his wife, Mary, and asked her to come and give him nursing care, which she did.

In the meantime, the Confederates attacked Winchester and the Union general evacuated the town. Many soldiers were captured, including all the sick and wounded. Dr. Swett was in a hospital when both he and his wife were taken prisoners. Mary was sent to Richmond, Virginia, where she and other women were imprisoned in Castle Thunder. Many of the women held there were detained simply because they were wives of Union soldiers.

Dr. Swett was also in Richmond but in Libby Prison. He didn’t know where his wife was until he received a message from her. Mary was held on an upper floor of her prison, but she still managed to get a message out to him.

Mary was paroled in July 1863.

Dr. Swett was honorably discharged at Richmond, Virginia in June 1865.

Following is a quote from my source material: “They (Mary and the other women) were returned to Washington where they rested several days as guests of the government. They were given a tour of the city and afterwards returned to their homes. After the war, Mrs. Swett was offered a reimbursement by the Federal Government. She declined it with thanks stating that she had enjoyed the episode so much and did not feel that she should receive payment for exciting memories. It is refreshing to learn the ordinary citizen of a hundred years ago did not desire help from the government when no disability was incurred.”

Dr. Isaac Swett and Mary Bobo Swett were my second great grandparents.

Rowland G. Williams