Chicago's macabre hidden Civil War history

During the Civil War, thousands of Confederate Soldiers embarked on Illinois - but not in battle. They came here as prisoners, and some never left.

[@HotZTrain]

My great grandfather, Pryor Anderson, 8th Mississippi Inf. was captured at the Battle of Franklin, Tennessee, November 30, 1964. He and 900 other Confederate soldiers were sent to Camp Douglas. Arriving on December 5th., they were all forced to strip naked in the cold snow, while the Union soldiers took any thing of value they had. Pryor was released in June of 1865. He and two other Confederate soldiers (one was black) walked 1000 miles back to Smith County, Mississippi. It took them all summer. Pryor Anderson was one of the original founders of the Mt.Zion Baptist Church (Yellow Corn Baptist) in Taylorsville, Miss. in 1870. It's still there, going strong. My late mother use to tell me, until she moved to California in 1948, she always thought "Damn Yankees" was one word.

[@travisbayles870]

I had three Confederate ancestors who were imprisoned at Camp Douglas one of them died there Confederate prisoners called it 80 acres of Hell It was a real Hell hole

[@2ndarmoredhellonwheels106]

so this was just as bad as Andersonville. yet nothing was done about it unlike Andersonvilles commander who was hanged.

[@TheAmericanCrusader]

Because the Andersonville commander was on the losing side

[@donmoody9423]

My ancestor Solomon Floyd Cook was captured by the Union Army in the Cumberland Gap and transported to Camp Douglas. He died there of smallpox and is buried at Oakwood Cemetery after his remains had been exhumed and moved to the new mass grave. His name is on the plaque that was attached to the monument.

[@tinamarie0701]

My great-great-grandfather was treated the same way as your ancestor with no dignity or respect as a human being. They share that same grave! At least we can honor them with our words!

[@donmoody9423]

@@tinamarie0701 Thank you for sharing. Do you know where your ancestor served?

[@tinamarie0701]

@@donmoody9423 off of the top of my head I don't recall. However i know he is mentioned in our family records. My Great Grandfather (×3) also died of SmallPox and was exhumed and required at Douglas just like yours was. I'm curious now as to what regiment he was in. If I find out I'll let you know

[@donmoody9423]

@@tinamarie0701 My ancestor served in the North Carolina 62nd Regiment, Company G and held the rank of Sergeant. He died on November 11, 1864 of smallpox also at Camp Douglas. His brother escaped capture and survived to carry on my mother's family line.

[@tinamarie0701]

@@donmoody9423 I love the history! My Great Great Great Grandfather Thomas Haney had 4 children and the 5th one on the way when he enlisted on September 1, 1862. I was a protégée of his 3rd child. He enlisted in Sumner County, Tennessee. He was captured in Salineville, Ohio on July 26,1863 and sent to Camp Chase in Ohio and to Camp Douglas where he sadly died of Small Pox just 2 weeks after your ancestor, on November 25, 1864. I often wonder why every single member of his family picked up and left Tennessee for Missouri when he died. That must of been a hard thing to do back then. I am so glad to have heard about your great Uncle and about the escape by his brother, your Great Grandfather. Awesome history story!

[@tinamarie0701]

Those men who died at Camp Douglas had families. Many years later those families are finding out where they are buried. My 3rd great-grandfather Thomas Haney died and was buried in a mass Grave there! He was grieved by his 5 children and wife.

[@djsugarc1075]

good

[@tinamarie0701]

@@djsugarc1075 interesting response

[@JohnRebCSA]

My confederate ancestor Thomas Benton Ross died there too😔

[@tinamarie0701]

@@JohnRebCSA 🙏😢RIP

[@Andrew-ci9xv]

It’s a disgusting shame what they did to those soldiers and their bodies . Ofcourse chicago doesn’t want to honor them , they’re a disgusting liberal cess-pool . The confederates were for states rights and didn’t want the overwhelming industrialization of the north . ..

[@HotZTrain]

I meant to mention...it was called The Andersonville of the North.

[@brianbundesen]

Fascinating story. I never knew these details. My grandparents are buried at Oakwoods, not far from the Confederate Mound. Thanks for sharing this!

[@catherinekelly532]

I left! as this is the largest mass grave in the Western Hemisphere, and Chicago is barely a very hazy memory. MadAbe was not assassinated; but Booth exterminated him. Wish we stayed in Italy! Was in Sicily; but stupidly returned. But not to Chicago! Which is like a War Zone that Gary Ind, is!

[@johnaugsburger6192]

Thanks

[@e.grieves2905]

Lets talk about the union soldiers that were put into a pow camp in Chicago after the surrender at Harpers Ferry. Until there were enough Confederate POWs for an exchange. Yes this really happened. Ohio 32nd

[@sugarplumenigma4850]

Let’s not ! Confederates suffered and died here .

[@rkrw576]

Death by disease in camps was bad on both sides, indeed more died in them than in battle.

[@kevinwoods2602]

No sir. More Soldiers died from illness than from battle wounds.....but it's not true that more died in prison camps than in battle. Not even close.

[@catrinaciccone6945]

very very few knew~`

[@ethan60645]

No battles in Illinois but thousands of rebel dead, sounds like a great ratio to me

[@djsugarc1075]

dont feel bad for them. this should be celebrated

[@tinamarie0701]

Wow! Just because they didn't believe ...your way...such an unhumanistic response. Its American history....good or bad

[@djsugarc1075]

the sick and twisted confederates deserved a fate worse than death. Hope there is a Hell so your confederate ancestors are burning, and I hope your bloodline is cut off.

[@donmoore9131]

learn history

[@SashJ.McMishmosh]

I celebrate your stupidity, thanks

[@michealklee8844]

They greys did much worse

[@philmajohnson9150]

Both sides did equally bad things. There's no black and white, just grey.

[@yadja1502]

Not worse no they did not.