Elmira Prison
| Company type | Military prison camp |
|---|---|
| Industry | Military, Prisoner of war camp |
| Founded | 1864 |
| Defunct | 1865 |
| Fate | Dismantled and converted into farmland |
| Headquarters | Elmira, New York , United States |
Area served | United States (Union Army) |
Elmira Prison originally served as a barracks within "Camp Rathbun" or "Camp Chemung," a prominent Union Army recruitment and training location throughout the American Civil War from 1861 until 1864. The site was strategically chosen for its access to the Erie Railroad and Northern Central Railway, both vital transportation corridors. While the camp's military use diminished as the war progressed, its "Barracks #3" was repurposed into a military prison during the summer of 1864, becoming the largest Confederate prisoner-of-war detention center. Although constructed to hold 4,000 inmates, it rapidly expanded to accommodate 12,000 within a month. Another account cites Camp Rathbun’s initial capacity at 6,000 recruits before conversion to a prison designed for 10,000, with only ten days allotted for this transformation.
The facility operated from July 6, 1864, through July 11, 1865, and gained the derisive nickname "Hellmira" among its detainees. Nearly 2,970 out of approximately 12,100 prisoners perished during this time due to starvation, exposure to severe winter conditions, diseases stemming from unsanitary conditions near Foster's Pond, and insufficient medical treatment. Those who died were interred at what became Woodlawn National Cemetery, located roughly north of the camp; this site was officially designated a National Cemetery in 1877.
After the conflict concluded, prisoners were required to swear loyalty oaths and were given railroad tickets for their return home. The final prisoner left on September 27, 1865; soon after, the camp was shut down, dismantled, and converted into farmland. Some accounts suggest that the destruction of the site was intentional due to its infamous reputation. Currently, the area where the prison once stood is a residential neighborhood with ongoing initiatives aimed at reconstructing elements of the original camp.
A significant figure associated with Elmira is John Surratt, who was implicated in the conspiracy to assassinate President Abraham Lincoln. He asserted that he was conducting espionage at Elmira when Lincoln was killed and fled to Montreal upon hearing of the assassination.
Training camp
On April 15, 1861, President Lincoln issued a call for 75,000 volunteer soldiers to quell the rebellion. Elmira was selected as one of three New York training centers because of its strategic location and status as a railway junction. Initially, soldiers were quartered in leased buildings which quickly became overcrowded following an increase of 500,000 additional troops later that year. Consequently, four military installations were established within the city: Arnott Barracks, Camp Rathbun, Camp Robinson, and Post Barracks.
Situated between the Chemung River and Water Street with Foster's Pond to its south, Camp Rathbun was enclosed by fencing measuring approximately 300 yards by 500 yards on three sides. The camp contained twenty barracks capable of housing up to 2,000 soldiers alongside officers’ quarters and two mess halls. Foster's Pond functioned as a bathing and laundry area for the troops.
Troop levels fluctuated during the camp’s early months; by June 1862 only fifty men remained at Camp Rathbun, prompting closure of Camp Robinson and Post Barracks. After conscription began in July 1862, troop numbers at Elmira increased once more. By 1863 Elmira had become western New York’s central draft rendezvous point. In early 1864 command passed to Lieutenant Colonel Seth Eastman. Expanded facilities allowed Camp Rathbun to accommodate up to 5,000 soldiers in barracks plus an additional 1,000 in tents.
Prison camp
At the war’s outset, a prisoner exchange agreement kept detention facilities largely unoccupied. This system collapsed in 1863 due to the Confederacy’s mistreatment and enslavement of Black Union soldiers, resulting in severely overcrowded prisons by April 1864. Following the departure of six companies from the 179th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment, Elmira gained available space. On May 19, Commissary General of Prisoners William Hoffman directed Eastman to convert the Chemung River barracks in Elmira into a prisoner-of-war depot, expecting it might need to accommodate between 8,000 and 10,000 captives within ten days.
Eastman assessed that the camp could realistically support only about half that number. The kitchens were capable of feeding 5,000 inmates daily, while mess halls had seating for merely 1,500 at one time. No medical facilities existed on-site; prisoners depended on local hospitals for treatment. Despite these constraints, preparations advanced, and overcrowding appeared unavoidable, sparking allegations that the camp functioned as a death facility.
Major Henry V. Colt of the 104th New York Volunteers was appointed as the first Commandant. Colt, brother of famed firearms manufacturer Samuel Colt, was unable to serve on active duty due to injury but earned respect from both Union and Confederate prisoners—an uncommon distinction among prison commanders.
By late June, Hoffman ordered the relocation of 2,000 POWs from Point Lookout, Maryland. These prisoners endured harsh conditions during a two-day journey by sea to Jersey City, New Jersey in groups of 400, followed by a 17–20 hour train ride to Elmira. Ultimately, overcrowding and vulnerability to attack necessitated transferring approximately 8,000 men from Point Lookout.
The train arrived early on July 6. Prisoners were unloaded and marched in double file to the camp. Although filthy and ragged, they reportedly felt relief upon leaving their former confinement. After being counted, they were organized into groups of hundreds and assigned to quarters.
Shohola disaster
Prisoner transfers continued without incident until July 15, when a train carrying 833 Confederate POWs and 128 Union guards collided with a coal freight train. The collision resulted in the deaths of 49 prisoners and 17 guards, with many others seriously injured. The rail line was cleared by the following day, allowing survivors to resume their trip to Elmira. News of the tragedy attracted a large crowd at the station.
Eastman awaited arrival with stretcher bearers, guards, and wagons prepared. Those able to walk were escorted to the camp for meals; seriously wounded individuals were transported by wagon. Priority was given to amputations before triage could proceed. Despite the tireless efforts of an understaffed medical team, some injured remained without care for several days.
Prison life
Life inside the camp was largely repetitive; however, some prisoners passed time by crafting items such as trinkets from bone or horsehair, which guards sold in nearby communities. Skilled carpenters found employment constructing camp buildings in exchange for wages and additional rations.
Outside the prison walls during summer months, a festive environment prevailed with observation platforms and food vendors offering views into the camp for a small fee. Prisoners occasionally engaged in provocative behaviors either to amuse or discourage spectators. By September, one observation tower was dismantled by army authorities; as colder weather arrived and visitors confronted harsh realities inside the camp, public interest waned significantly.
Prison conditions
Surgeon Charles T. Alexander conducted an inspection of the camp five days after its establishment, identifying two critical problems: unsanitary conditions with stagnant water that heightened the risk of disease, and insufficient medical facilities that depended on a local civilian surgeon and a makeshift tent hospital. Although recommendations were made to install new sinks and construct pavilion-style wards, these enhancements were postponed.
By mid-August, the prisoner population had surged beyond 9,200, overwhelming both personnel and resources. Disease outbreaks caused a sharp increase in fatalities, rising from 11 in July to 121 by the end of August. Drainage improvements were initiated only in late October and completed by January despite severe winter weather.
Camp commander Hoffman prioritized economy and responded to reports of Union soldiers' hardships in Confederate camps by cutting rations. This ration reduction contributed to malnourishment, compounded by intense summer heat and frigid winter temperatures. Due to a shortage of barracks space, most inmates resided in tents; delays in lumber supply postponed barracks construction until October. Existing structures fell into disrepair, leaving over 2,000 men housed in tents as late autumn approached.
In September, Colonel Benjamin Tracy succeeded Lieutenant Colonel Eastman as commander. Opinions on Tracy’s leadership vary—some depict him as punitive in ration cuts, while others suggest his efforts were hindered by administrative constraints. Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Moore assumed command in December.
The winter of 1864–65 was exceptionally harsh, with temperatures plummeting to -18 °F accompanied by heavy snowfall. The reduced food allocations forced prisoners to resort to eating rats, which became a form of currency within the camp’s barter system. By March, hundreds had perished from exposure or illness. Spring flooding damaged the stockade walls and compelled prisoners to remain on their bunks until liberation arrived. After General Lee’s surrender in April, the process of paroling prisoners commenced.
Escape attempts
Although numerous escape efforts were made, only ten prisoners managed to flee successfully. Just one day after the camp’s opening, two inmates escaped by climbing over the 12-foot stockade fence. Washington B. Traweek orchestrated the only significant tunnel escape alongside members of the Jefferson Davis Artillery Company. Their plan entailed digging a tunnel from a neighboring tent beneath the fence leading into town. When hospital construction was planned near the camp, they redirected their tunnel beneath the hospital but were detected due to similar tunneling activities by others. The original tunnel remained hidden, allowing Traweek and his group to resume digging and ultimately escape.
Major Colt, the commandant who was generally respected by prisoners, took his responsibilities seriously. When Traweek refused to reveal details about the tunnel during interrogation, Colt subjected him to severe questioning in a sweatbox but eventually released him. Traweek and his associates then successfully fled.
Burial of the dead
Deceased prisoners were prepared for interment at the camp before being transported approximately 1.5 miles north to Woodlawn Cemetery. Coffins contained jars with identification information and were arranged side by side within lengthy trenches initially marked by wooden grave markers aligned as if for military inspection.
John W. Jones, a former slave serving as local sexton, managed burials with exceptional care and kept thorough records, resulting in only seven unidentified graves among nearly 3,000 interments. He documented valuables found on deceased prisoners and ensured they were sent to families. After the war, most families chose to leave their loved ones’ remains at Woodlawn due to the dignified burials provided.
In 1907, wooden markers were replaced with marble headstones engraved with each soldier’s name, regiment, and grave number.
In 1911, remains of both Union and Confederate victims from the Shohola train wreck were reburied at Woodlawn.
In 1937, the United Daughters of the Confederacy erected a monument in the Confederate section featuring a soldier statue overlooking the graves. The inscription reads:
IN MEMORY OF THE CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS IN THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES WHO DIED IN ELMIRA PRISON AND LIE BURIED HERE – ERECTED BY THE UNITED DAUGHTERS OF THE CONFEDERACY NOVEMBER 6, 1937
Aftermath
The conditions at Elmira mirrored the severe circumstances typical of Civil War detention facilities across both Union and Confederate territories. There remains ongoing discussion about whether the elevated death toll stemmed from mismanagement, insufficient provisions, retaliatory measures, or a mixture of these factors. Northern press outlets, including the New York Herald, minimized allegations of mistreatment, asserting that prisoners received adequate food and medical attention despite widespread illness. This portrayal contributed to maintaining Elmira’s reputation as a comparatively more humane site than camps such as Andersonville.
During an 1892 gathering, John T. Davidson, who formerly served as a guard captain, attributed the mortality figures to climatic conditions and living environment but maintained that these causes did not specifically pertain to Elmira. Nonetheless, by the conclusion of the conflict, Elmira exhibited a fatality rate of 24.5%, closely approaching Andersonville’s 28.7%, highlighting the grave impact on those imprisoned.
Historical marker
A commemorative plaque is embedded in a flagstone at the original prison grounds:
Reconstruction
Restoration efforts commenced on September 11, 2015, focusing on the camp’s sole surviving structure. The project to reconstruct the broader campsite began on July 6, 2016—marking exactly 152 years since it initially housed detainees.
In popular culture
The camp’s severe environment is portrayed in the 1982 miniseries The Blue and the Gray and is also recounted in With Lee in Virginia.
See also
John W. Jones Museum (607) 846-3030