The Illinois in the Civil War Message Board

Re: prisoners at camp douglas
In Response To: Re: prisoners at camp douglas ()

Sam, Here is something that you may or may not have, but it might interest you. Frank
"It is estimated that from 1862–1865, more than 6,000 Confederate prisoners died from disease, starvation, and the bitter cold winters (although as many as 1,500 were reported as "unaccounted" for). The largest number of prisoners held at any one time was 12,000 in December 1864. Accounts vary as to precise numbers. According to 80 Acres of Hell, a television documentary produced by the A&E Network and the The History Channel, the reason for the uncertainty is that many records were destroyed after the war. The documentary also alleges that, for a period of time, the camp contracted with an unscrupulous undertaker who sold some of the bodies of Confederate prisoners to medical schools and had the rest buried in shallow graves without coffins. Some were even dumped in Lake Michigan only to wash up on its shores. Many, however, were initially buried in unmarked pauper's graves in Chicago's City Cemetery (located on the site of today's Lincoln Park), but in 1867 were reinterred at what is now known as Confederate Mound in Oak Woods Cemetery (5 miles south of the former Camp Douglas).
Nobody was ever held accountable for the conditions and actions at Camp Douglas.
http://www.graveyards.com/IL/Cook/oakwoods/confederate-names/"

Messages In This Thread

Re: prisoners at camp douglas
Re: prisoners at camp douglas
Re: prisoners at camp douglas
Re: prisoners at camp douglas
Re: prisoners at camp douglas
Re: prisoners at camp douglas
Re: prisoners at camp douglas
Re: prisoners at camp douglas
Re: prisoners at camp douglas
Re: prisoners at camp douglas
Re: prisoners at camp douglas
Re: prisoners at camp douglas
Re: prisoners at camp douglas
Re: prisoners at camp douglas
Re: prisoners at camp douglas
Re: prisoners at camp douglas
Re: prisoners at camp douglas
Re: prisoners at camp douglas
Re: prisoners at camp douglas
Re: prisoners at camp douglas
Re: prisoners at camp douglas
Re: prisoners at camp douglas
Re: prisoners at camp douglas
Re: prisoners at camp douglas
Re: prisoners at camp douglas
Re: prisoners at camp douglas