Florence Stockade
| Company type | Prisoner-of-war camp |
|---|---|
| Industry | Military prison |
| Founded | September 1864 |
| Defunct | February 1865 |
| Headquarters | Florence , United States |
| Products | Detention of Union prisoners of war |
The Florence Stockade, sometimes referred to as The Stockade or the Confederate States Military Prison at Florence, was a Confederate prisoner-of-war camp located near Florence, South Carolina. It operated from September 1864 until February 1865 and confined as many as 18,000 Union captives, with nearly 2,800 succumbing during its operation.
History
Established in the closing months of the Civil War, the stockade began functioning in September 1864. Command responsibilities were held by Lt. Col. John Iverson of the 5th Georgia Infantry, while day-to-day oversight was conducted by Lt. James Barrett, also from the 5th Georgia. The facility accommodated between 15,000 and 18,000 prisoners.
After General Sherman captured Atlanta on September 1, 1864, Confederate officials decided to move roughly 30,000 Union detainees from Andersonville prison, which faced threat from Sherman's advancing forces. Florence was selected due to its advantageous railroad links and perceived defensibility. Many prisoners initially traveled through Charleston before reaching Florence, where the camp was still under construction at their arrival.
Spanning an area of , the stockade was enclosed by a trench designed to deter escapes. Within a month of opening, it held approximately 12,000 inmates with daily fatalities ranging from 20 to 30. The camp suffered from severe shortages; detainees were inadequately supplied with clothing and blankets. John McElroy, who endured imprisonment at both Andersonville and Florence, characterized Florence as deadlier overall, attributing high death rates partly to prisoners’ weakened conditions upon arrival from Andersonville. Testimonies from McElroy and others recount severe mistreatment under Lt. Barrett’s supervision.
In mid-October, the United States Sanitary Commission provided relief supplies. Of those confined at Florence, 2,802 Union soldiers died and were interred in unmarked graves that now form part of the Florence National Cemetery.
Recognized on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, the site is accessible to visitors as a segment of the City of Florence Trail System. The City of Florence along with Friends of the Florence Stockade organize walking tours and maintain an informational gazebo featuring historical exhibits.
See also
External links
- Florence Prison Stockade History
- Friends of the Florence Stockade
- The Stockade, Florence County (Florence), with photos, at South Carolina Department of Archives and History
- City of Florence
- Stockade Site Open to the Public
- Military facilities on the National Register of Historic Places in South Carolina
- American Civil War prison camps
- Defunct prisons in South Carolina
- South Carolina in the American Civil War
- Buildings and structures in Florence, South Carolina
- Tourist attractions in Florence County, South Carolina
- National Register of Historic Places in Florence County, South Carolina
- American Civil War on the National Register of Historic Places
- African Americans in the American Civil War
- 1864 establishments in South Carolina
- 1865 disestablishments in South Carolina