Point Lookout, Maryland
Encyclopedia
Point Lookout is a Maryland
state park
at the southern tip of St. Mary's County, Maryland. It is a peninsula formed by the confluence of the Chesapeake Bay
and the Potomac River
.
Captain John Smith
first explored the Point in 1612. Leonard Calvert
used the Point for his personal manor in 1634. During the American Revolution
, and again in the War of 1812
, it was subject to British raids.
, much of the land around Point Lookout was transformed into a bustling port
, temporary city
of civilians and military
personnel and numerous buildings, a large army hospital
, an army garrison
at Fort Lincoln
, and a Union
prisoner of war camp to hold Confederate
captives. Of the 50,000 soldiers held in the army prison camp, who were housed in tents at the Point between 1863 and 1865, according to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources
, nearly 4,000 died, although this death rate of 8 percent was less than half the death rate among soldiers who were in the field with their own armies. The camp, originally built to hold 10,000 men, swelled to between 12,000 to 20,000 prisoners after the exchange of prisoners between armies was placed on hold. The result was crowded conditions with up to sixteen men to a tent in poor sanitary conditions. By far, it was the largest Union-run prison camp in the North and also, one of the worst during the war. Today, a Confederate prisoner of war memorial
and cemetery
exist on the former grounds of the Point Lookout Prisoner of War Camp.
Because of the extensive water erosion
of the Chesapeake Bay shoreline, in the last 150 years, half of the original site of the prisoner of war stockade
has been obliterated and washed away by the bay.
, the original light house built in 1830, a fishing pier, boat launch facilities, public beaches and facilities, overnight camping, Civil War historical remains, and, reputedly, ghosts. The Civil War Museum/Marshland Nature Center is open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 9 A.M until 5 P.M. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 A.M. until 6 P.M. until the end of October.
, which includes references to its use as a POW camp as well as various features of the park, including Calvert's manor and the lighthouse.
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
state park
State park
State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
at the southern tip of St. Mary's County, Maryland. It is a peninsula formed by the confluence of the Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It lies off the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Maryland and Virginia. The Chesapeake Bay's drainage basin covers in the District of Columbia and parts of six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West...
and the Potomac River
Potomac River
The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. The river is approximately long, with a drainage area of about 14,700 square miles...
.
Captain John Smith
John Smith of Jamestown
Captain John Smith Admiral of New England was an English soldier, explorer, and author. He was knighted for his services to Sigismund Bathory, Prince of Transylvania and friend Mózes Székely...
first explored the Point in 1612. Leonard Calvert
Leonard Calvert
Leonard Calvert was the 1st Proprietary Governor of Maryland. He was the second son of George Calvert, 1st Baron Baltimore, the first proprietary of the Province of Maryland...
used the Point for his personal manor in 1634. During the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
, and again in the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, it was subject to British raids.
Civil War
In 1862 during the American Civil WarAmerican 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...
, much of the land around Point Lookout was transformed into a bustling port
Port
A port is a location on a coast or shore containing one or more harbors where ships can dock and transfer people or cargo to or from land....
, temporary city
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
of civilians and military
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
personnel and numerous buildings, a large army hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
, an army garrison
Garrison
Garrison is the collective term for a body of troops stationed in a particular location, originally to guard it, but now often simply using it as a home base....
at Fort Lincoln
Fort Lincoln
Fort Lincoln may refer to:*Fort Lincoln *Fort Abraham Lincoln, an old military post near Mandan, North Dakota, now a state park*Fort Lincoln Internment Camp, former military post and internment camp near Bismarck...
, and a Union
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...
prisoner of war camp to hold 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...
captives. Of the 50,000 soldiers held in the army prison camp, who were housed in tents at the Point between 1863 and 1865, according to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Maryland Department of Natural Resources
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is a government agency in the state of Maryland charged with maintaining natural resources such as the 66 state parks, public lands, state forests, state waterways, wildlife and recreation areas....
, nearly 4,000 died, although this death rate of 8 percent was less than half the death rate among soldiers who were in the field with their own armies. The camp, originally built to hold 10,000 men, swelled to between 12,000 to 20,000 prisoners after the exchange of prisoners between armies was placed on hold. The result was crowded conditions with up to sixteen men to a tent in poor sanitary conditions. By far, it was the largest Union-run prison camp in the North and also, one of the worst during the war. Today, a Confederate prisoner of war memorial
War memorial
A war memorial is a building, monument, statue or other edifice to celebrate a war or victory, or to commemorate those who died or were injured in war.-Historic usage:...
and cemetery
Cemetery
A cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. The term "cemetery" implies that the land is specifically designated as a burying ground. Cemeteries in the Western world are where the final ceremonies of death are observed...
exist on the former grounds of the Point Lookout Prisoner of War Camp.
Because of the extensive water erosion
Erosion
Erosion is when materials are removed from the surface and changed into something else. It only works by hydraulic actions and transport of solids in the natural environment, and leads to the deposition of these materials elsewhere...
of the Chesapeake Bay shoreline, in the last 150 years, half of the original site of the prisoner of war stockade
Stockade
A stockade is an enclosure of palisades and tall walls made of logs placed side by side vertically with the tops sharpened to provide security.-Stockade as a security fence:...
has been obliterated and washed away by the bay.
Present day
Today Point Lookout is a Maryland State Park and retains Point Lookout LightPoint Lookout Light
Point Lookout Light is a lighthouse that marks the entrance to the Potomac River, in the town of Scotland, Saint Mary's County, Maryland, at the southern-most tip of the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay...
, the original light house built in 1830, a fishing pier, boat launch facilities, public beaches and facilities, overnight camping, Civil War historical remains, and, reputedly, ghosts. The Civil War Museum/Marshland Nature Center is open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 9 A.M until 5 P.M. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 A.M. until 6 P.M. until the end of October.
In popular culture
The park is used as the setting in the Point Lookout add-on for the video game Fallout 3Fallout 3
Fallout 3 is an action role-playing game released by Bethesda Game Studios, and the third major installment in the Fallout series. The game was released in North America, Europe and Australia in October 2008, and in Japan in December 2008 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360...
, which includes references to its use as a POW camp as well as various features of the park, including Calvert's manor and the lighthouse.
See also
- Prisoner camps of the American Civil War
- Prisoner of war mail
- List of Civil War POW Prisons and Camps
External links
- Point Lookout State Park
- Point Lookout State Park history
- Point Lookout State Park in World Database on Protected Areas
- Point Lookout is part of the Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network
- Point Lookout Prison in the Civil War
- Confederate Memorial Park at Point Lookout
- Point Lookout Confederate Cemetery, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- Burials in Point Lookout Confederate Cemetery
- Point Lookout Prisoner of War Camp
- Descendants of Point Lookout POW Organization
- Point Lookout Civil War papers and brief history, University of Michigan
- Who's Afraid of Ghosts? The Spirits of Point Lookout, Maryland Department of Natural Resources
- Point Lookout, Maryland - The Most Haunted Lighthouse in America
- Haunted Lighthouses: Point Lookout Lighthouse
- Most Haunted Places in America: Point Lookout Lighthouse
- Point Lookout Lighthouse - A Haunting View
- The Ghosts of Point Lookout Lighthouse
- Point Lookout, The Vault, Fallout 3 Video Game, Fallout Wiki