Elmira Prison
Encyclopedia
Elmira Prison was a prisoner-of-war camp
constructed by the Union Army
in Elmira, New York
, during the American Civil War
to house captive Confederate
soldiers.
The site was selected partially due to its proximity to the Erie Railway
and the Northern Central Railway
, which criss-crossed in the midst of the city, making it a prime location for a Union Army
training and muster point early in the Civil War. Most of the 30 acres (121,405.8 m²) Union installation, known as Camp Rathbun, fell into disuse as the war progressed, but the camp's "Barracks #3" were converted into a military prison in the summer of 1864. The prison camp, in use from July 6, 1864, until the fall of 1865, was dubbed "Hellmira" by its inmates. Towner's history of 1892 and maps from the period indicate the camp occupied an area running about 1000 feet (304.8 m) west and approximately the same distance south of a location a couple of hundred feet west of Hoffman Street and about 35 feet south of Water Street, bordered on the south by Foster's Pond, on the north bank of the Chemung River
.
During the 15 months the site was used as a prisoner of war camp more than 12,100 Confederate soldiers were incarcerated there; of these, nearly 25% (2,963) died from a combination of malnutrition, continued exposure to harsh winter weather, and disease from the poor sanitary conditions on Foster's Pond combined the lack of medical care. The camp's dead were prepared for burial and laid to rest by the sexton at what is now Woodlawn National Cemetery
, ex-slave named John W. Jones. At the end of the war, each prisoner was required to take a loyalty oath and given a train ticket home. The last prisoner left the camp on September 27, 1865. The camp was then closed, demolished and converted to farm land.
Elmira Prison has been compared to its Southern counterpart, Andersonville, due to the high death rate. However, it should be noted that the Elmira camp was much better supplied and prepared for prisoners than Andersonville would have been at the same time, leaving in question why so many men died at Elmira.
Woodlawn Cemetery
, about 2 miles (3.2 km) north of the original prison camp site (bounded by West Hill, Bancroft, Davis, and Mary streets), was designated a National Cemetery in 1877. The prison camp site is a residential area today, and few of the city's residents are aware that the prison camp ever existed. However, there is a memorial at the site today.
Prisoner-of-war camp
A prisoner-of-war camp is a site for the containment of combatants captured by their enemy in time of war, and is similar to an internment camp which is used for civilian populations. A prisoner of war is generally a soldier, sailor, or airman who is imprisoned by an enemy power during or...
constructed by the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
in Elmira, New York
Elmira, New York
Elmira is a city in Chemung County, New York, USA. It is the principal city of the 'Elmira, New York Metropolitan Statistical Area' which encompasses Chemung County, New York. The population was 29,200 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Chemung County.The City of Elmira is located in...
, during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
to house captive Confederate
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
soldiers.
The site was selected partially due to its proximity to the Erie Railway
Erie Railroad
The Erie Railroad was a railroad that operated in New York State, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, originally connecting New York City with Lake Erie...
and the Northern Central Railway
Northern Central Railway
The Northern Central Railway was a Class I Railroad connecting Baltimore, Maryland with Sunbury, Pennsylvania. Completed in 1858, the line came under the control of the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1861, when the PRR acquired a controlling interest in the Northern Central's stock to compete with the...
, which criss-crossed in the midst of the city, making it a prime location for a Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
training and muster point early in the Civil War. Most of the 30 acres (121,405.8 m²) Union installation, known as Camp Rathbun, fell into disuse as the war progressed, but the camp's "Barracks #3" were converted into a military prison in the summer of 1864. The prison camp, in use from July 6, 1864, until the fall of 1865, was dubbed "Hellmira" by its inmates. Towner's history of 1892 and maps from the period indicate the camp occupied an area running about 1000 feet (304.8 m) west and approximately the same distance south of a location a couple of hundred feet west of Hoffman Street and about 35 feet south of Water Street, bordered on the south by Foster's Pond, on the north bank of the Chemung River
Chemung River
The Chemung River is a tributary of the Susquehanna River, approximately long, in south central New York and northern Pennsylvania in the United States. It drains a mountainous region of the northern Allegheny Plateau in the Southern Tier of New York...
.
During the 15 months the site was used as a prisoner of war camp more than 12,100 Confederate soldiers were incarcerated there; of these, nearly 25% (2,963) died from a combination of malnutrition, continued exposure to harsh winter weather, and disease from the poor sanitary conditions on Foster's Pond combined the lack of medical care. The camp's dead were prepared for burial and laid to rest by the sexton at what is now Woodlawn National Cemetery
Woodlawn National Cemetery
Woodlawn National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery located in the city of Elmira, in Chemung County, New York. It encompasses , and as of the end of 2005, had 8,693 interred remains.- History :...
, ex-slave named John W. Jones. At the end of the war, each prisoner was required to take a loyalty oath and given a train ticket home. The last prisoner left the camp on September 27, 1865. The camp was then closed, demolished and converted to farm land.
Elmira Prison has been compared to its Southern counterpart, Andersonville, due to the high death rate. However, it should be noted that the Elmira camp was much better supplied and prepared for prisoners than Andersonville would have been at the same time, leaving in question why so many men died at Elmira.
Woodlawn Cemetery
Woodlawn National Cemetery
Woodlawn National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery located in the city of Elmira, in Chemung County, New York. It encompasses , and as of the end of 2005, had 8,693 interred remains.- History :...
, about 2 miles (3.2 km) north of the original prison camp site (bounded by West Hill, Bancroft, Davis, and Mary streets), was designated a National Cemetery in 1877. The prison camp site is a residential area today, and few of the city's residents are aware that the prison camp ever existed. However, there is a memorial at the site today.