Hispanic Prisoners in the Civil War

Federico Cavada

Federico Fernandez Cavada was born in Cienfuegos, Cuba in 1832. His father, Isodoro Cavada, died in 1838 and Federico was sent to live with his mother, Emily Gatier, in Philiadelphia. In Philadelphia the young Cavada was educated and became an engineer. A staunch abolitionist, Cavada enlisted, along with his brother Adolfo, in the Union Army at the outbreak of the Civil War, in which he served as an engineer. Assigned to a hot air balloon observation unit, Cavada spent a good deal of time in 1862 drawing maps and sketches while floating above Confederate positions in Virginia.

By July of 1863 Cavada had achieved the rank of Lt. Colonel and was in command of the 114th Pennsylvania Infantry. On July 2, 1863 the regiment was engaged in fierce fighting at the Battle of Gettysburg and Cavada was captured by Confederate forces. After a march of nearly two weeks, he found himself held in the infamous Libby Prison in Richmond, VA. Cavada was held as a prisoner of war until the Spring of 1864, when he was exchanged. Later that year he published his prison memoir, Libby Life: Experiences of a Prisoner of War in Richmond, VA, 1863-1864. Complete with his own illustrations, Cavada's book gave a detailed narrative of the prisoner of war experience from his capture until his release.

 

Osceola Pochontas's enlistment papers

NPS/Andersonville National Historic Site

After the Civil War, Cavada was appointed as a consul in Cuba. In 1869 he resigned, and joined the Cuban resistance against Spanish rule in the Cuban Ten Years War. Although he survived his prisoner of war experience in Libby Prison, he would not be so fortunate in Cuba. Captured by Spanish forces, he was executed by firing squad in July of 1871.

Although Cavada is the most prominent Hispanic prisoner held during the Civil War, he was not the only one to suffer in captivity for his new country. Osceola Pochontas was born around 1838 in Mexico. Prior to enlistment in the Union Army he worked as a seaman, which might help explain how he ended up in Connecticut sometime after 1860. Pochontas enlisted in Company L of the 1st Connecticut Cavalry on January 6, 1864. He was captured on May 5, 1864 at Craig's Church, VA and sent to Andersonville. He died on October 11, 1864 of scurvy and is buried in grave 10,676 in the Andersonville National Cemetery. To date, Osceola Pochontas is the only documented Hispanic soldier to be held at Andersonville Prison.

 

Osceola Pochontas is buried in grave 10,676 in Andersonville National Cemetery.

NPS/Andersonville National Historic Site

The contributions made by Hispanics during the Civil War are often overlooked. They risked their lives and their freedom in order to ensure that the nation would be preserved. Their stories, which are still being discovered and told, provide inspiration and reflection as the legacy of the Civil War belongs to all Americans.