Devil's Punchbowl (Natchez, Mississippi)
| Company type | Refugee settlement |
|---|---|
| Industry | Humanitarian relief |
| Founded | 1865 |
| Headquarters | Natchez , United States |
Area served | Freed African Americans |
The Devil's Punchbowl was a refugee settlement set up in Natchez, Mississippi following the American Civil War to address the surge of self-liberated formerly enslaved individuals. Ineffective management and poor sanitary conditions led to a significant mortality rate, with death estimates varying between 2,000 and 20,000.
Description
In response to the arrival of numerous freed African Americans, the Union Army established a camp within Devil's Punchbowl, a natural depression enclosed by steep bluffs. Many residents succumbed to starvation, smallpox, and other illnesses. While some accounts suggest that fatalities exceeded 20,000 within one year, this number is subject to debate. Historian Jim Wiggins contends that this figure is exaggerated by a factor of ten, whereas writer and activist Ser Seshsh Ab Heter-Clifford M. Boxley characterizes the story as "fabricated Confederate propaganda" intended to undermine the reputation of the Union Army.