Prisoners of War in Maryland

National History Standards

Materials compiled in this document can be used by educators to fulfill the following National History Standards for Grades 5-12:

Era 5: Civil War and Reconstruction (1850-1877)

STANDARD 2: The course and character of the Civil War and its effects on the American people.

Standard 2B: The student understands the social experience of the war on the battlefield and homefront.

Primary Resources

DESCRIPTION: Letter, Major-General N. P. Banks to Col. E. D. Townsend.
DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: July 13, 1861
NOTES: "I find it necessary to call the attention of the commander-in-chief to the condition of Fort McHenry considered merely as a place of confinement for arrested persons. Its limited dimension make it insufficient for the secure possession of persons whose arrests and detention is indispensable to the public peace...."
SOURCE: United States. War Dept., United States. Record and Pension Office., United States. War Records Office., et al. The war of the rebellion: a compilation of the official records of the Union and Confederate armies. Series 2 - Volume 1. (Washington, DC. Government Printing Office, 1894): 586-587.
DESCRIPTION: Letter, Col. E. D. Townsend to Major General Banks
DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: July 17, 1861
NOTES: "The general is aware of the difficulties attending the custody of prisoners at Fort McHenry but at present sees no remedy for them. He supposes the prisoners have been of course disarmed and that force would be used to prevent their escape...."
SOURCE: United States. War Dept., United States. Record and Pension Office., United States. War Records Office., et al. The war of the rebellion: a compilation of the official records of the Union and Confederate armies. Series 2 - Volume 1. (Washington, DC. Government Printing Office, 1894): 587.
DESCRIPTION: Letter, John A. Dix to Gen. G. B. McClellan
DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: September 5, 1861
NOTES: "Fort McHenry which has not sufficient space for the convenient accommodation of the number of men necessary to man its guns is crowded with prisoners. Besides our own criminals awaiting trial or under sentence we have eleven State prisoners.... It is also too near a great town in which there are multitudes who sympathize with them who are constantly applying for interviews and who must be admitted with the hazard of becoming the media of improper communications, or who go away with the feeling that they have been treated harshly because they have been denied access to their friends."
SOURCE: United States. War Dept., United States. Record and Pension Office., United States. War Records Office., et al. The war of the rebellion: a compilation of the official records of the Union and Confederate armies. Series 2 - Volume 1. (Washington, DC. Government Printing Office, 1894): 592-593.
DESCRIPTION: Letter, John A. Dix to Gen. G. B. McClellan
DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: September 8, 1861
NOTES: "I must again call your attention to the crowded state of Fort McHenry. Every room is full and we had fifty prisoners last night in tents on the parade ground with hardly room left for the guard to parade."
SOURCE: United States. War Dept., United States. Record and Pension Office., United States. War Records Office., et al. The war of the rebellion: a compilation of the official records of the Union and Confederate armies. Series 2 - Volume 1. (Washington, DC. Government Printing Office, 1894): 593.
DESCRIPTION: Letter, Montgomery Blair and Lennox Birckhead to Abraham Lincoln (Release of prisoner at Fort McHenry)
DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: September 8, 1863
SOURCE: The Abraham Lincoln Papers at the Library of Congress. Series 1. General Correspondence. 1833-1916.
REPOSITORY: Library of Congress
DESCRIPTION: Abraham Lincoln to Ethan A. Hitchcock (Prisoner exchange)
DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: January 10, 1864
SOURCE: The Abraham Lincoln Papers at the Library of Congress. Series 1. General Correspondence. 1833-1916.
REPOSITORY: Library of Congress
DESCRIPTION: Marriot Boswell to William H. Seward (Telegram regarding arrests in Baltimore)
DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: July 1, 1861
SOURCE: The Abraham Lincoln Papers at the Library of Congress. Series 1. General Correspondence. 1833-1916.
REPOSITORY: Library of Congress
DESCRIPTION: Thomas Donaldson to Montgomery Blair, November 10, 1862 (Release of political prisoners in Baltimore)
DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: November 10, 1862
SOURCE: The Abraham Lincoln Papers at the Library of Congress Series 1. General Correspondence. 1833-1916.
REPOSITORY: Library of Congress
DESCRIPTION: J. M. Coale to Abraham Lincoln, November 12, 1861 (Requests release of imprisoned members of the Maryland legislature)
DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: November 12, 1861
SOURCE: The Abraham Lincoln Papers at the Library of Congress Series 1. General Correspondence. 1833-1916.
REPOSITORY: Library of Congress
DESCRIPTION: Letter, John A. Dix to William H. Seward
DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: February 17, 1862
NOTES: Includes report of political prisoners taken, released, and remaining since March 4, 1861, at Fort McHenry, Md.
SOURCE: United States. War Dept., United States. Record and Pension Office., United States. War Records Office., et al. The war of the rebellion: a compilation of the official records of the Union and Confederate armies. Series 2 - Volume 2. (Washington, DC. Government Printing Office, 1897): 226-228
DESCRIPTION: Hospital and Military Prison at Point Lookout [Lithograph]
DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: n. d.
SOURCE: Civil War Treasures from the New-York Historical Society
REPOSITORY: New York Historical Society
DESCRIPTION: [Point Lookout: a series of eight ground plans of military properties erected and used during the Civil War.]
DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: September 1865
ARC Identifier: 305824
SOURCE: Part of Series: Post and Reservation Maps, 1820 - 1905.
REPOSITORY: National Archives, Washington, DC
DESCRIPTION: Point Lookout, Md. View of Hammond Genl. Hospital & U.S. genl. depot for prisoners of war Lith. by E. Sachse & Co., Baltimore.
DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: 1864
SOURCE: Map Collections: 1500-2003
REPOSITORY: Library of Congress
DESCRIPTION: Diary of Bartlett Yancey Malone
DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: published 1919
SOURCE: Southern Voices: Texts from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
REPOSITORY: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
DESCRIPTION: Prison Schoolhouse [Point Lookout]
AUTHOR: John Jacob Omenhausser (1832-1877)
DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: 1864
NOTES: Prisoners stand, sit and read outside a long wooden building. One prisoner pumps water, African American guards stand watch
SOURCE: Image source, Civil War Treasures from the New-York Historical Society
REPOSITORY: New York Historical Society
DESCRIPTION: Engine made and invented by a prisoner, whilst confined at this prison
AUTHOR: John Jacob Omenhausser (1832-1877)
DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: 1864
NOTES: A man stands next to a steam engine, which involves steam from a pot on a stove powering a wheel
SOURCE: Image source, Civil War Treasures from the New-York Historical Society
REPOSITORY: New York Historical Society
DESCRIPTION: Hot Coffee
AUTHOR: John Jacob Omenhausser (1832-1877)
DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: 1864
NOTES: Two men carry a bucket of coffee suspended from a stick. One man is barefoot and with patched clothes, the other holds a cup. Barefoot man: "Heres your good hot coffee." Other man: "Only one cracker a cup"
SOURCE: Image source, Civil War Treasures from the New-York Historical Society
REPOSITORY: New York Historical Society
DESCRIPTION: Prisoner's Post Office
AUTHOR: John Jacob Omenhausser (1832-1877)
DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: 1864
NOTES: Prisoners gather around a wooden building with tent roof labeled "post office." Other prisoners surround a bulletin board and open parcels. An African-American sentinel stands guard by wooden buildings in the background
SOURCE: Image source, Civil War Treasures from the New-York Historical Society
REPOSITORY: New York Historical Society
DESCRIPTION: Prison Hospital
AUTHOR: John Jacob Omenhausser (1832-1877)
DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: 1864
NOTES: A group of long wooden buildings on stilts. Two prisoners sit in the doorway to one building, a patient with an amputated leg walks on crutches toward a fence in front of the buildings.
SOURCE: Image source, Civil War Treasures from the New-York Historical Society
REPOSITORY: New York Historical Society
DESCRIPTION: Prison Entrance, Point Lookout Md.
AUTHOR: John Jacob Omenhausser (1832-1877)
DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: 1864
NOTES: Two African American sentinels stand guard with guns outside a large wooden door marked "Prisoner's Camp." Next to them is a small building labeled "Asst. Prov. Marshal;" white soldiers stand in the doorway and sit on the porch of the building.
SOURCE: Image source, Civil War Treasures from the New-York Historical Society
REPOSITORY: New York Historical Society
DESCRIPTION: Point Lookout Sports. Vantoon or 21
AUTHOR: John Jacob Omenhausser (1832-1877)
DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: 1864
NOTES: Five prisoners sit around a table playing cards and betting. Ships at sea are visible in the background. First prisoner: "Give me a card." Second prisoner: "I'll branch these" Dealer: "Sing out who wants a card." Fourth prisoner: "That will do for me."
SOURCE: Image source, Civil War Treasures from the New-York Historical Society
REPOSITORY: New York Historical Society
DESCRIPTION: Point Lookout Sports - Tarra
AUTHOR: John Jacob Omenhausser (1832-1877)
DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: 1864
NOTES: Five men sit at a table playing cards and betting. Ships sail by in the background. First prisoner: "I've lost twice's on that damnd old ace." Dealer: "Hurry up and make your bets." Third prisoner: "How many times has the jack won." Fourth prisoner: "I'll wait and see how the cards runs."
SOURCE: Image source, Civil War Treasures from the New-York Historical Society
REPOSITORY: New York Historical Society
DESCRIPTION: Scene on the beach
AUTHOR: John Jacob Omenhausser (1832-1877)
DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: 1864
NOTES: Prisoners engaged in many activities along a beach and pier. Some sit on the pier and fish, some stand in the shallow water and fish, a few bathe in the water or wash clothing. In the foreground, two prisoners carry a large barrel suspended on a stick. Ships sail in the water offshore.
SOURCE: Image source, Civil War Treasures from the New-York Historical Society
REPOSITORY: New York Historical Society
DESCRIPTION: [Guard and prisoner]
AUTHOR: John Jacob Omenhausser (1832-1877)
DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: 1864
NOTES: An African American guard points a bayonetted rifle at a prisoner in front of a tent. Their conversation is written out in the top left corner. "Sentinel {halt-dar, who goes dar? Rebel {A Friend. Sentinal {Look here white man, don't you say Friend again, you's a Rebel and prisoner, and I'se put here to watch you - how you like dat.
SOURCE: Image source, Civil War Treasures from the New-York Historical Society
REPOSITORY: New York Historical Society
DESCRIPTION: Prisoners Cookhouse
AUTHOR: John Jacob Omenhausser (1832-1877)
DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: 1864
NOTES: A melee among prisoners leaving a long wooden cookhouse. Some prisoners fight each other, some have fallen to the ground. An African American sentinel comes to the assistance of one man, another stands guard behind a fence beyond the cookhouse. Prisoners say the following: "Oh my soup," "Is that a souphouse cup?" "You threw soup in my face, take that," and "Take him off."
SOURCE: Image source, Civil War Treasures from the New-York Historical Society
REPOSITORY: New York Historical Society
DESCRIPTION: A sentinel accidently shot by his companion
AUTHOR: John Jacob Omenhausser (1832-1877)
DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: 1864
NOTES: An African American guard lies on the ground outside of a tent bleeding while another guard bends over him. The fallen guard's rifle is beside him. Three prisoners look on. First prisoner: "Whats the matter" Second prisoner: "Who kill'd him" Guard: "Git up Abram and don't act possum, here comes Corp'ral Jim but I knows you don't beleive me you think I'se fooling you. Git up Abram and don't make a fool of yourself, don't you see de white folk's laughing at you - for de Lord I believe's the nigger dead for sartain."
SOURCE: Image source, Civil War Treasures from the New-York Historical Society
REPOSITORY: New York Historical Society
DESCRIPTION: [Letter from prisoner at Point Lookout to President Johnson]
AUTHOR: Edwin S. Valliant
DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: 1865
SOURCE: Civil War Treasures from the New-York Historical Society
REPOSITORY: New York Historical Society
DESCRIPTION: General Order No. 46
DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: 1864
NOTES: Printed flyer from the Head Quarters St. Mary's District, Aug 29, 1864, instructing Sentinels at Point Lookout to refrain from shooting at prisoners unless necessary. By command of Brig. Gen. James Barnes.
SOURCE: Civil War Treasures from the New-York Historical Society
REPOSITORY: New York Historical Society
DESCRIPTION: General Order No. 25
DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: 1864
NOTES: Printed flyer from the Head Quarters St. Mary's District, May 24, 1864, instructing Sentinels at Point Lookout to be vigilant about guarding prisoners. By command of Col. A.G. Draper, and signed by G.L. Kibby in ink on the inside
SOURCE: Civil War Treasures from the New-York Historical Society
REPOSITORY: New York Historical Society
DESCRIPTION: [Prisoners at Point Lookout taking the oath of allegiance]
DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: June 30, 1865
NOTES: A group of prisoners stand in a building, with the U.S. Flag draped across the ceiling, each with his hand on a Bible. A Union officer stands at a dias administering the oath of allegiance to the Union
SOURCE: Civil War Treasures from the New-York Historical Society
REPOSITORY: New York Historical Society
DESCRIPTION: [Doctors examining a Federal prisoner returned from prison]
DATE CREATED/PUBLISHED: [photographed between 1861 and 1865, printed later]
REPRODUCTIONS: How to obtain copies of this item
REPOSITORY: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C.

Additional Media Resources

Union and Confederate POWs of the Civil War. By the Pennsylvania Volunteers of the Civil War. Provides a search engine for various Civil War POW databases, including prisoners at Fort McHenry and Point Lookout.

Secondary Resources

Allen, Bob and Dana B. Shoaf. "Point Lookout's Prison Pen" America's Civil War (March 2003): 38

Blondo, Richard A., "A View of Point Lookout Prison Camp for Confederates" OAH Magazine of History (Fall 1993): 30-36.

Cannon, Rayford L. and Edwin W. Besch. "One of Seven Brothers in Gray" Civil War Times Illustrated (February 1997): 80.

Faherty, William. "From the Gray to the Black" Civil War Times Illustrated (February 2000): 50.

Ruffin, Edmund. "Extracts from the Diary of Edmund Ruffin." William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Magazine, Vol. 23, No. 1. (Jul., 1914), pp. 31-45. (See page 44 for description of Point Lookout)

Speer, Lonnie R. Portals to Hell: The Military Prisons of the Civil War. Stackpole Books, 1997.

Associated Heritage and Preservation Organizations

Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine
Fort Avenue
Baltimore, MD

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Credits

Teaching American History in Maryland is a collaborative partnership of the Maryland State Archives and the Center for History Education (CHE), University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC), and the following sponsoring school systems: Anne Arundel County Public Schools, Baltimore City Public School System, Baltimore County Public Schools, and Howard County Public Schools.

Other program partners include the Martha Ross Center for Oral History, Maryland Historical Society, State Library Resource Center/Enoch Pratt Free Library, with assistance from the National Archives and Records Administration and the Library of Congress. The program is funded through grants from the U.S. Department of Education.

This document packet was researched and developed by Nancy Bramucci.

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