[CIVIL WAR]. A group of 3 ribbons for National Association of Union Ex-Prisoners of War, identified to Erastus Winters, 50th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Sultana survivor.

Ribbon for the 36th Annual Encampment of the National Association Union Ex-Prisoners of War, Toledo, Aug. 31 - Sept. 5, 1908. 1-7/8 x 5-1/2"

Ribbon with pin, 33rd Annual encampment, Denver, Sept. 1905. 1-1/4 x 4-1/2" (overall, including pin)

41st National Encampment of GAR, with P of W ribbon and medal with "Death Before Dishonor" showing a dog attacking a man. Saratoga Springs, 1907.

Erastus Winter enlisted in the 50th Ohio Vol. Infy. in August 1862 and mustered into Co. K as a private.

Erastus Winter was born in Cincinnati, OH in 1843. In August of 1862 he enlisted in the 50th Ohio Volunteer Infantry as a private and mustered into Co. K. He eventually was promoted to Corporal. The 50th saw early action at Perryville, KY and later joined Sherman's Atlanta Campaign.

Winters was captured at the Battle of Franklin, TN in 1864 and spent the remaining months at Cahaba (Cahawba) Prison in Alabama. On Apr. 24, the riverboat Sultana picked up prisoners, mostly from Cahaba and Andersonville prisons to return them north, until she had over 2100 prisoners on board. Her legal passenger capacity was 376, but a Union soldier in charge of getting recently released prisoners of war home made a deal with Winters for a kickback if Hatch could get 1400 prisoners on the boat. By the time she headed upriver, she had over 2100 souls - prisoners, passengers, and crew. The Sultana exploded two days into her journey, killing somewhere between 1100 and 1700 persons (depending on which account one believes), and remains one of the worst naval disasters in American history. Many of these men had been severely weakened by their time in Confederate prisons, and even if they could swim (and were able to after the explosion), may were just too weak to do so.

Winters wrote an account of his time shortly before he died: In the 50th Ohio serving uncle Sam: Memoirs of One who Wore the Blue. Publisher uncertain, but likely self-published, 1905. This has been reissued in 2020 as "A Buckeye in the 50th Ohio, 1862-1865: a Civil War Memoir."

[CIVIL WAR]. A group of 3 ribbons for National Association of Union Ex-Prisoners of War, identified to Erastus Winters, 50th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Sultana survivor.