Rock Island Prisoner of War Camp: A Gruesome Chapter of the Civil War

During the American Civil War, the Rock Island Arsenal in Illinois housed one of the Union’s largest and most notorious prisoner of war camps. Although often overshadowed by Andersonville, the Rock Island camp held over 12,000 Confederate soldiers and was plagued by disease, exposure, and high mortality rates. This article explores the history of the Rock Island prison camp, the conditions endured by its inmates, and its lasting legacy.

Origins and Establishment

Established in November 1863, the Rock Island prison camp was a response to the rapidly increasing number of Confederate prisoners of war captured during the conflict. The first prisoners arrived on December 3, 1863, transferred from Camp Douglas and those captured at the Battles of Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge . The site, located on a 3-mile long and ½-mile wide island in the Mississippi River between Illinois and Iowa, had previously served as a Union arsenal since 1862 .

The prison itself consisted of 84 barracks surrounded by a rough board fence , designed to accommodate over 10,000 inmates at any given time .

Life Inside the Camp

Conditions at Rock Island were harsh, particularly during the winter months. Prisoners arrived with inadequate clothing and faced brutal cold, with temperatures plummeting to 30 degrees below zero . The barracks, described as “shanties” built in a “rough and cheapest manner” , offered little protection from the elements.

Sanitation was a significant problem, leading to outbreaks of diseases like smallpox and pneumonia . Food rations were often insufficient, contributing to scurvy and starvation. Initially, the dead were disposed of in mass graves, but a surgeon later advocated for a dedicated cemetery to improve sanitary conditions .

Despite the harsh conditions, some prisoners attempted escapes, though security measures were stringent .

Mortality and the Confederate Cemetery

Over the 18 months of its operation, more than 12,000 Confederate prisoners were held at Rock Island . Sadly, approximately 2,000 of them died in captivity . The Rock Island Confederate Cemetery, established as a result of the high death toll, remains the sole surviving remnant of the prison camp . It serves as the final resting place for 1,964 prisoners of war who succumbed to disease and the deplorable living conditions .

Legacy and Remembrance

The Rock Island prison camp, sometimes referred to as the “Andersonville of the North” , stands as a grim reminder of the suffering endured by prisoners of war during the Civil War. Today, Arsenal Island houses the largest arsenal in the United States, but the Confederate Cemetery continues to be maintained as a memorial to those who perished at Rock Island . Records of prisoners interned at Rock Island are available through resources like FamilySearch .