Civil War Prison

In 1858, the railroad company graded away an Indian mound that stood here. A brick warehouse was built in its place. From 1863 - 1865 the Confederate government used this warehouse to hold captured Federal Soldiers. You are standing on a pile of brick rubble from this structure.<br><br> This official 1864 diagram helped archaeologists identify the actual prison site. Carefully excavated clues revealed that a proposed extension to the stockade was actually built.<br><br> If you follow the brick rubble at your feet, you can walk the perimeter of the prison. It held 3000 men but only measured 200 by 125 feet!