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===Prison conditions===
===Prison conditions===
Five days after the camp opened, Surgeon Charles T. Alexander was ordered to inspect the Camp at Colonel Hoffman's request. Alexander found two major problems with the camp that he detailed in his report. The first was that of the camp's sanitary conditions. The sinks near Foster's Pond contained stagnant water, and he feared if they were not cleaned, they might "become offensive and a source of disease." He recommended the construction of new sinks. Hoffman did not heed these warnings. It was not until October 27 that work finally began on the draining system, but the cold weather kept this project from being completed until January 1. In the meantime, hundreds of prisoners were subjected to stagnant and unclean water, and sickness soon prevailed throughout the camp.<ref>{{cite book |author=Horigan, Michael |title=Death Camp of the North: The Elmira Civil War Prison Camp |publisher=Stackpole Books, 2002| pages=133–136 |isbn=0-8117-1432-2}}</ref>
Five days after the camp opened, Surgeon Charles T. Alexander was ordered to inspect the Camp at Colonel Hoffman's request. Alexander found two major problems with the camp that he detailed in his report. The first was that of the camp's sanitary conditions. The sinks near Foster's Pond contained stagnant water, and he feared if they were not cleaned, they might "become offensive and a source of disease." He recommended the construction of new sinks. Hoffman did not heed these warnings. By the middle of August the number of prisoners had jumped to over 9,200. This ended up overwhelming the staff and quickly depleting supplies. Diseases soon broke out, and the death toll jumped from 11 in July to 121 by the end of August.<ref>http://chemungcountyhistoricalsociety.blogspot.com/2014/12/elmiras-civil-war-prison-camp.html</ref> It was not until October 27 that work finally began on the draining system, but the cold weather kept this project from being completed until January 1. In the meantime, hundreds of prisoners were subjected to stagnant and unclean water, and sickness soon prevailed throughout the camp.<ref>{{cite book |author=Horigan, Michael |title=Death Camp of the North: The Elmira Civil War Prison Camp |publisher=Stackpole Books, 2002| pages=133–136 |isbn=0-8117-1432-2}}</ref>


The other problem that Alexander identified was that of the hospitals. While the camp now had a hospital, in the form of a tent, it did not have an assigned surgeon and instead relied on the services of William C. Wey, a local civilian. Alexander also thought the notion of using a tent as a hospital within the prison was inappropriate, and therefore should be rectified. Hoffman approved of three pavilion wards to be planned at Alexander's suggestion.<ref>{{cite book |author=Gray, Michael P. |title=The Business of Captivity: Elmira and Its Civil War Prison |publisher=Kent State University Press, 2001| page=14 |isbn=0-87338-708-2}}</ref>
The other problem that Alexander identified was that of the hospitals. While the camp now had a hospital, in the form of a tent, it did not have an assigned surgeon and instead relied on the services of William C. Wey, a local civilian. Alexander also thought the notion of using a tent as a hospital within the prison was inappropriate, and therefore should be rectified. Hoffman approved of three pavilion wards to be planned at Alexander's suggestion.<ref>{{cite book |author=Gray, Michael P. |title=The Business of Captivity: Elmira and Its Civil War Prison |publisher=Kent State University Press, 2001| page=14 |isbn=0-87338-708-2}}</ref>
Line 37: Line 37:


The winter of 1864-65 was lethally cold. Twice the temperature dropped to -18°F
The winter of 1864-65 was lethally cold. Twice the temperature dropped to -18°F
and a major February storm dumped over two feet of snow.<ref>http://www.elmiraprisoncamp.com/elmira-civil-war-prison-camp-a-brief-overview/</ref> This was a shock to many southerners, who had never experienced such cold temperatures. Hoffman's reduced rationing began to take their toll on the prisoners, as they were reduced to eating rats. Indeed, rats became a currency in the trade system of the prisoners for other supplies.<ref>{{cite book |author=Horigan, Michael |title=Death Camp of the North: The Elmira Civil War Prison Camp |publisher=Stackpole Books, 2002| pages=139–140 |isbn=0-8117-1432-2}}</ref> In March, Spring thawing led to the flooding of the camp. Many of the prisoners were forced to huddle on top of the bunks in the barracks until rescue could arrive, and 2,700 feet of the stockade wall was washed away. <ref>http://www.elmiraprisoncamp.com/elmira-civil-war-prison-camp-a-brief-overview/</ref> In April came word of General Lee's surrender, and the camp began to parole the men. <ref>http://www.elmiraprisoncamp.com/elmira-civil-war-prison-camp-a-brief-overview/</ref>
and a major February storm dumped over two feet of snow.<ref>http://www.elmiraprisoncamp.com/elmira-civil-war-prison-camp-a-brief-overview/</ref> This was a shock to many southerners who had never experienced such cold temperatures. Hoffman's reduced rationing began to take their toll on the prisoners, as they were reduced to eating rats. Indeed, rats became a currency in the trade system of the prisoners for other supplies.<ref>{{cite book |author=Horigan, Michael |title=Death Camp of the North: The Elmira Civil War Prison Camp |publisher=Stackpole Books, 2002| pages=139–140 |isbn=0-8117-1432-2}}</ref> By March, Hundreds of men had froze to death or succumbed to disease.<ref>http://chemungcountyhistoricalsociety.blogspot.com/2014/12/elmiras-civil-war-prison-camp.html</ref> A Spring thaw led to the flooding of the camp, and many of the prisoners were forced to huddle on top of the bunks in the barracks until rescue could arrive, and 2,700 feet of the stockade wall was washed away. In April came word of General Lee's surrender, and the camp began to parole the men. <ref>http://www.elmiraprisoncamp.com/elmira-civil-war-prison-camp-a-brief-overview/</ref>


Though these conditions were brutal, they were [[American Civil War prison camps#Death rates|not uncommon]] in prisons of both the north and the south. Historians today still debate on whether this was due to poor management and inadequate supplies, or if it was a means of retaliation, or both. <ref>http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/04/us/civil-war-150th-anniversary-prisons/index.html</ref> Nevertheless, newspapers in the north attempted to downplay the conditions of the camp. The ''New York Herald'' denied any mistreatment of prisoners in Elmira, calling the reports a "pure fabrication." To the ''Herald'', all rations at Elmira were sufficient and, though it admitted the unusually high incidence of illness in the camp, the newspaper said that the sickness was "beyond the control of the authorities...there is no lack of medical attendance or supplies." The propaganda was so powerful that the belief that the Elmira prison camp was a humane alternative to [[Andersonville National Historic Site|Andersonville]] still prevailed in some circles of thought years later. In a meeting in 1892, John T. Davidson, a captain of the guard detail at the prison, blamed the high mortality rate on the changing weather, water, and manner of living. He also conceded that the horrors of prison-camp life were numerous, and a condition that all men should hope to avoid. But, he said, "none of these things can apply, with a shadow of truth, to the prison camp at Elmira." <ref>{{cite book |author=Horigan, Michael |title=Death Camp of the North: The Elmira Civil War Prison Camp |publisher=Stackpole Books, 2002| pages=125–126 |isbn=0-8117-1432-2}}</ref> However, by the end of the Civil War it could not be disputed that Elmira had taken a considerable toll on the prisoners who came through its doors; the mortality rate of 24.5% was near that of Andersonville (28.7%).<ref>http://www.elmiraprisoncamp.com/elmira-civil-war-prison-camp-facts/</ref>
Though these conditions were brutal, they were [[American Civil War prison camps#Death rates|not uncommon]] in prisons of both the north and the south. Historians today still debate on whether this was due to poor management and inadequate supplies, or if it was a means of retaliation, or both. <ref>http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/04/us/civil-war-150th-anniversary-prisons/index.html</ref> Nevertheless, newspapers in the north attempted to downplay the conditions of the camp. The ''New York Herald'' denied any mistreatment of prisoners in Elmira, calling the reports a "pure fabrication." To the ''Herald'', all rations at Elmira were sufficient and, though it admitted the unusually high incidence of illness in the camp, the newspaper said that the sickness was "beyond the control of the authorities...there is no lack of medical attendance or supplies." The propaganda was so powerful that the belief that the Elmira prison camp was a humane alternative to [[Andersonville National Historic Site|Andersonville]] still prevailed in some circles of thought years later. In a meeting in 1892, John T. Davidson, a captain of the guard detail at the prison, blamed the high mortality rate on the changing weather, water, and manner of living. He also conceded that the horrors of prison-camp life were numerous, and a condition that all men should hope to avoid. But, he said, "none of these things can apply, with a shadow of truth, to the prison camp at Elmira." <ref>{{cite book |author=Horigan, Michael |title=Death Camp of the North: The Elmira Civil War Prison Camp |publisher=Stackpole Books, 2002| pages=125–126 |isbn=0-8117-1432-2}}</ref> However, by the end of the Civil War it could not be disputed that Elmira had taken a considerable toll on the prisoners who came through its doors; the mortality rate of 24.5% was near that of Andersonville (28.7%).<ref>http://www.elmiraprisoncamp.com/elmira-civil-war-prison-camp-facts/</ref>

Revision as of 22:01, 16 March 2017

For the currently operating prison, see Elmira Correctional Facility.
Prisoners at evening roll call, 1864
Confederate monument at Woodlawn National Cemetery in Elmira

Elmira Prison was a prisoner-of-war(POW) 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-acre (120,000 m2) Union installation, known as Camp Rathbun [1] or Camp Chemung, 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 July 11, 1865, was dubbed "Hellmira" by its inmates. During those 12 months, 2,970 of the 12,100 prisoners would die from a combination of malnutrition, continued exposure to harsh winter weather, and disease from the poor sanitary conditions on Foster's Pond combined with a lack of medical care. The camp's dead were prepared for burial and laid to rest by the sexton, an ex-slave named John W. Jones, at what is now Woodlawn National Cemetery. The cemetery, which is about 2 miles (3.2 km) north of the prison camp site (bounded by West Hill, Bancroft, Davis, and Mary streets), was designated a National Cemetery in 1877.

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.[2][3] The area where the prison once stood is residential today, but work is underway to reconstruct the camp.[4]

One of the conspirators of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, John Surratt, claims to have been in Elmira on a spy mission to gather information of the prison when Lincoln was shot. Upon hearing the news, he fled to Montreal, Quebec.[5]


Training camp

On April 15, 1861, President Lincoln called for 75,000 volunteer troops in order to help suppress the rebellion. Elmira was one of three locations chosen as training centers in New York (Albany and New York City being the other two) due to its geographical location and railway hub. At first, troops were housed in rented out buildings, but these quickly became overwhelmed when an additional 500,000 troops were called for later that year.[6][7] Four military installations were constructed through out the city; Arnott Barracks, Camp Rathbun, Camp Robinson, and Post Barracks.[8]

Camp Rathbun was built in between the Chemung River and Water Street. The campgrounds were enclosed in a 300yd by 500yd fence on the West, North, And east with Fosters Pond forming the southern boundary.[9] Towner's history of 1892 and maps from the period indicate the camp occupied an area running about 1,000 feet (300 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.[2][10]: 265  The camp consisted of 20 housing buildings (which could hold up to 2,000 troops), an officers quarters, and two mess halls. Fosters pond was used for bathing and washing.[11]

The amount of troops stationed in the city fluctuated for the first few months, and by June of 1862, only fifty men occupied Camp Rathbun. This led to the closing of both Camp Robinson and Post Barracks, and they would never be used again. A month later, in July, conscription was enacted by US Congress, and by 1863, Elmira was once again swelled with troops. During this time, the city was named headquarters for the western part of New York.[12] More facilities were built at the remaining two camps, and upon completion, allowed Camp Rathburn to hold up to 5,000 troops in the barracks, with an additional 1,000 troops in tents.[13]

Prison

By May of 1864, there was once again a lull in troop occupation in the city, and space was needed for Confederate POWs. Lieutenant Colonel Seth Eastman, the officer in charge of Camp Rathbun at the time, was informed via letter from Commissary General of Prisoners William Hoffman that he was to "set apart the barracks on the Chemung River at Elmira as a depot for prisoners of war." He was also informed that the prison might be needed within ten days and that it might have to welcome 8,000 or up to 10,000 prisoners. According to Eastman's calculations, the camp could only hold half that properly. In addition to that, Eastman reported that the kitchens could only feed 5,000 a day and the mess room could only seat 1,500 men at once. To top all of this off, there were no hospital facilities in the camp; the soldiers instead relied on facilities in the town.[14] Still, Eastman was told to be prepared to receive prisoners, and from the beginning it would seem that the camp was destined to be overcrowded. This led to many charges that the prison camp was designed from the beginning to be not a prison, but a death camp.[15]

The first Commandant of the Camp was Major Henry V. Colt of the 104th New York Volunteers. Colt was given charge over the prisoners because of an inability to serve in the field, a characteristic that many in his position in similar prison camps shared with him. A man of relatively even temperament, Colt was able to achieve what few officers in the war were able to in that he was liked by both Union and Confederate soldiers.[16]

Escape attempts

On July 6, 1864, the first 400 prisoners arrived at the camp. A day after, two prisoners made a successful escape attempt by scaling the 12 foot stockade wall. Though there were many escape attempts, only 10 men were successful. Washington B. Traweek led the only major successful escape attempt from the prison along with a few other soldiers, all of them members of the Jefferson Davis Artillery Company. The escape plan involved digging a tunnel from a neighboring tent underneath the fence and into town. Later, when a series of hospitals was to be built for the camp, the prisoners involved in Traweek's plot decided to transfer their tunnel to go underneath the hospital, and started work on a new tunnel. Others had a similar idea, and this resulted in the tunnels being discovered. However, the first tunnel had not been discovered, so Traweek and his men returned to work on that tunnel. Though Colt was a fair man, and liked well enough by most of his prisoners, he took his duty seriously as commandant. The next day, Traweek was called before Major Colt. Colt inquired as to where Traweek's tunnel was, and who had been tunneling with him. When Traweek refused to tell, Colt ordered him into a sweatbox and presided over his questioning, willing to go to extreme measures to find and persecute the tunnelers. Traweek held fast however, and Colt was forced to release him. Traweek and his companions eventually escaped.[17]

Prison conditions

Five days after the camp opened, Surgeon Charles T. Alexander was ordered to inspect the Camp at Colonel Hoffman's request. Alexander found two major problems with the camp that he detailed in his report. The first was that of the camp's sanitary conditions. The sinks near Foster's Pond contained stagnant water, and he feared if they were not cleaned, they might "become offensive and a source of disease." He recommended the construction of new sinks. Hoffman did not heed these warnings. By the middle of August the number of prisoners had jumped to over 9,200. This ended up overwhelming the staff and quickly depleting supplies. Diseases soon broke out, and the death toll jumped from 11 in July to 121 by the end of August.[18] It was not until October 27 that work finally began on the draining system, but the cold weather kept this project from being completed until January 1. In the meantime, hundreds of prisoners were subjected to stagnant and unclean water, and sickness soon prevailed throughout the camp.[19]

The other problem that Alexander identified was that of the hospitals. While the camp now had a hospital, in the form of a tent, it did not have an assigned surgeon and instead relied on the services of William C. Wey, a local civilian. Alexander also thought the notion of using a tent as a hospital within the prison was inappropriate, and therefore should be rectified. Hoffman approved of three pavilion wards to be planned at Alexander's suggestion.[20]

While Hoffman was open to suggestions on how to improve his prisons, he believed in thrift. After hearing reports of the horrible conditions union solders were facing in Confederate prison camps, he ordered reduced rations in retaliation.[21]As a result, many prisoners were malnourished, and compounded the hardships they had to face (especially during the extreme heat of summer and the extreme cold of winter).[22] Another major problem that points to Hoffman's policy of retaliation was the construction of winter housing for the prisoners. During most of their stay, a significant portion of the prisoners in Elmira lived in tents, as there was only room the barracks for half of the 12,100 prisoners. A lack of lumber delayed the construction of new barracks until October when the cold New York nights had started to pervade the camp. In November, it was also reported that the existing barracks were experiencing trouble as well, with roofs falling into disrepair and being unfit to withstand the elements. Even in late November and early December, there were reports of over 2,000 Confederates sleeping in tents, and a Christmas inspection said that 900 still had no proper housing.[23]

The winter of 1864-65 was lethally cold. Twice the temperature dropped to -18°F and a major February storm dumped over two feet of snow.[24] This was a shock to many southerners who had never experienced such cold temperatures. Hoffman's reduced rationing began to take their toll on the prisoners, as they were reduced to eating rats. Indeed, rats became a currency in the trade system of the prisoners for other supplies.[25] By March, Hundreds of men had froze to death or succumbed to disease.[26] A Spring thaw led to the flooding of the camp, and many of the prisoners were forced to huddle on top of the bunks in the barracks until rescue could arrive, and 2,700 feet of the stockade wall was washed away. In April came word of General Lee's surrender, and the camp began to parole the men. [27]

Though these conditions were brutal, they were not uncommon in prisons of both the north and the south. Historians today still debate on whether this was due to poor management and inadequate supplies, or if it was a means of retaliation, or both. [28] Nevertheless, newspapers in the north attempted to downplay the conditions of the camp. The New York Herald denied any mistreatment of prisoners in Elmira, calling the reports a "pure fabrication." To the Herald, all rations at Elmira were sufficient and, though it admitted the unusually high incidence of illness in the camp, the newspaper said that the sickness was "beyond the control of the authorities...there is no lack of medical attendance or supplies." The propaganda was so powerful that the belief that the Elmira prison camp was a humane alternative to Andersonville still prevailed in some circles of thought years later. In a meeting in 1892, John T. Davidson, a captain of the guard detail at the prison, blamed the high mortality rate on the changing weather, water, and manner of living. He also conceded that the horrors of prison-camp life were numerous, and a condition that all men should hope to avoid. But, he said, "none of these things can apply, with a shadow of truth, to the prison camp at Elmira." [29] However, by the end of the Civil War it could not be disputed that Elmira had taken a considerable toll on the prisoners who came through its doors; the mortality rate of 24.5% was near that of Andersonville (28.7%).[30]

Reconstruction

On September 11, 2015, Work began on reconstructing the only remaining building of the camp. On July 6, 2016, exactly 152 years after the prison received its first prisoners, work began on reconstructing the campsite itself.[31]

Miserable conditions for the prisoners in the camp are depicted in the 1982 miniseries The Blue and the Gray. Tourists, for a fee, are able to gawk at the captives from a viewing stand.[32] Vincent was captured and brought to Elmira Prison in With Lee in Virginia.

See also

References

  1. ^ https://www.civilwaracademy.com/elmira-prison.html
  2. ^ a b "Civil War Prison Camp: Hellmira". City of Elmira, New York. Archived from the original on December 2, 2008. Retrieved February 6, 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ Horigan, Michael (2002). Death Camp of the North: The Elmira Civil War Prison Camp. Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania: Stackpole Books. ISBN 0-8117-1432-2. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  4. ^ http://www.elmiraprisoncamp.com/category/project-updates/
  5. ^ https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=6139
  6. ^ Horigan, Michael. Death Camp of the North: The Elmira Civil War Prison Camp. Stackpole Books, 2002. p. 12. ISBN 0-8117-1432-2.
  7. ^ Gray, Michael P. The Business of Captivity: Elmira and Its Civil War Prison. Kent State University Press, 2001. p. 1-2. ISBN 0-87338-708-2.
  8. ^ Gray, Michael P. The Business of Captivity: Elmira and Its Civil War Prison. Kent State University Press, 2001. p. 1-2. ISBN 0-87338-708-2.
  9. ^ Gray, Michael P. The Business of Captivity: Elmira and Its Civil War Prison. Kent State University Press, 2001. p. 3. ISBN 0-87338-708-2.
  10. ^ Towner, Ausburn (1892). Our County and Its People: A History of the Valley and County of Chemung. Syracuse, N. Y.: D. Mason & Co. Retrieved June 26, 2011. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  11. ^ Gray, Michael P. The Business of Captivity: Elmira and Its Civil War Prison. Kent State University Press, 2001. p. 3. ISBN 0-87338-708-2.
  12. ^ Gray, Michael P. The Business of Captivity: Elmira and Its Civil War Prison. Kent State University Press, 2001. p. 4. ISBN 0-87338-708-2.
  13. ^ Horigan, Michael. Death Camp of the North: The Elmira Civil War Prison Camp. Stackpole Books, 2002. p. 26. ISBN 0-8117-1432-2.
  14. ^ Gray, Michael P. The Business of Captivity: Elmira and Its Civil War Prison. Kent State University Press, 2001. pp. 7–9. ISBN 0-87338-708-2.
  15. ^ Horigan, Michael. Death Camp of the North: The Elmira Civil War Prison Camp. Stackpole Books, 2002. p. 27. ISBN 0-8117-1432-2.
  16. ^ Gray, Michael P. The Business of Captivity: Elmira and Its Civil War Prison. Kent State University Press, 2001. pp. 12–13. ISBN 0-87338-708-2.
  17. ^ "Recollections of Washington B. Traweek". Elmira Prison Camp Online Library. Retrieved December 2, 2012.
  18. ^ http://chemungcountyhistoricalsociety.blogspot.com/2014/12/elmiras-civil-war-prison-camp.html
  19. ^ Horigan, Michael. Death Camp of the North: The Elmira Civil War Prison Camp. Stackpole Books, 2002. pp. 133–136. ISBN 0-8117-1432-2.
  20. ^ Gray, Michael P. The Business of Captivity: Elmira and Its Civil War Prison. Kent State University Press, 2001. p. 14. ISBN 0-87338-708-2.
  21. ^ http://www.researchonline.net/nycw/elmira1.htm#.WMnKWoWcGXg
  22. ^ Horigan, Michael. Death Camp of the North: The Elmira Civil War Prison Camp. Stackpole Books, 2002. p. 86. ISBN 0-8117-1432-2.
  23. ^ Horigan, Michael. Death Camp of the North: The Elmira Civil War Prison Camp. Stackpole Books, 2002. pp. 138, 146. ISBN 0-8117-1432-2.
  24. ^ http://www.elmiraprisoncamp.com/elmira-civil-war-prison-camp-a-brief-overview/
  25. ^ Horigan, Michael. Death Camp of the North: The Elmira Civil War Prison Camp. Stackpole Books, 2002. pp. 139–140. ISBN 0-8117-1432-2.
  26. ^ http://chemungcountyhistoricalsociety.blogspot.com/2014/12/elmiras-civil-war-prison-camp.html
  27. ^ http://www.elmiraprisoncamp.com/elmira-civil-war-prison-camp-a-brief-overview/
  28. ^ http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/04/us/civil-war-150th-anniversary-prisons/index.html
  29. ^ Horigan, Michael. Death Camp of the North: The Elmira Civil War Prison Camp. Stackpole Books, 2002. pp. 125–126. ISBN 0-8117-1432-2.
  30. ^ http://www.elmiraprisoncamp.com/elmira-civil-war-prison-camp-facts/
  31. ^ http://www.elmiraprisoncamp.com/category/project-updates/
  32. ^ The Blue and the Gray, Part 3, Columbia Pictures Television DVD set, 2001, Disk 3.
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