Via 4 Branch
| Elmira, The Death Camp Of The North (My Great Uncle) |
| Elmira POW Prison, NY |
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| Elmira POW Prison, NY |
The most notorious camp of the North was located in Elmira, New York where one of the 4 camps that made up the western New York Union Army rendezvous was refitted for use as a prisoner of war camp. Originally known as Camp Rathbun and designated as Camp No. 3, this camp during the course of its existence from the summer of 1864 until the end of the war housed approximately 12, 000 Confederate enlisted men. Of this number, approximately 3,000 died. The camp was located facing West Water Street between Hoffman and Guinnip Avenue. The rear of the camp was almost to the banks of the Chemung River.
Confederate prisoners were transported mostly from the prison at Point Lookout, Maryland by rail to Elmira. Some groups came from Old Capitol Prison in Washington and some from as far away as Louisiana. For the most part their physical condition on arrival was poor, and their numbers soon overwhelmed the facilities at the camp.
More @ TACW
My great-grandfather's older brother, William H. Worsley ("Woosley" in the Elmira records), died there of "diarrhea" after being captured at Falling Waters, MD while covering the rear during Gen. Lee's retreat from Gettysburg.
ReplyDeletecaptured at Falling Waters, MD
DeleteInteresting as I had a great uncle captured at the same place. They may have even know each other.
Elmira, The Death Camp Of The North (My Great Uncle)
https://www.namsouth.com/viewtopic.php?t=102&highlight=falling+waters
My great uncle, the son of BF Moore, "The Father of the NC Bar" was imprisoned there after being captured at Falling Waters, Maryland.