The Story of Johnson’s Island – Part 4 - Lorrie Halblaub

What was it like to be a prisoner on Johnson’s Island during the Civil War? Make no mistake, these former southern gentlemen and officers were treated like the prisoners that they were. They arrived in Sandusky on a prison train in chains.  Some townspeople greeted the rebs with cries of  “Murderers! Traitors! Thieves!” and worse. Next, the prisoners boarded the passenger boat Island Queen, and they realized they were going to an island. No civilians were allowed to land on the island, but the Island Queen made a tidy profit taking sightseers to view the prisoners from the water, as if it were a zoo.

Upon arrival at the camp, prisoners saw the high stockade walls, and a large open space around the camp that led to biggest lake they had ever seen. They saw guards, armed and in uniform. Now, they knew escape would be difficult.

As prisoners were registered, any U.S. money was taken and held for them to purchase items, from the Sutler, but Confederate money was considered worthless. Block and room numbers were assigned. Whatever rank they had held was ignored. Sergeants, lieutenants and generals were all “mister” now. Many had been wealthy men, used to servants and the best of everything. All that was gone.

In life on Johnson’s Island, the Confederate soldiers had many other enemies besides the Union Army. Hunger was an enemy. They cooked their own meals, but there was never enough food, nor was it nutritious.

Cold was an enemy. They were totally unprepared for the Ohio cold, snow, and ice. They came in uniforms meant for a warm southern climate. Because the camp was built quickly using green wood, soon gaps and holes in the boards were plentiful. At night, they slept on straw ticks with shoddy, thin blankets. Newspapers that were eagerly read to glean any information about the war, were then used for insulation on walls, under blankets, and clothing. 

Disease was an enemy. In the beginning, everyone thought the war would be over quickly. As the war went on, the prison became overcrowded. At first there were only 1,184 prisoners. By 1864 there were 3,231. Originally the guards were to be one company. By the end of the war there were four companies.

Boredom was an enemy. To fill their days, they played baseball, cards, dominos, and chess. They made arts and crafts from clam shells, bones and gutta percha, a tree that produced a rubber-like substance. They organized prayer meetings, wrote letters, held Masonic rites if a man was a member, and had a debate society.  They tried to make and play instruments and act out plays. Books were sent from the YMCA. Some men received packages from home. It was an unwritten law among the prisoners that food items had to be shared. If a prisoner was wealthy, extra items could be purchased at inflated prices from the Sutler.

Every day was a misery and at nine pm all prisoners had to be inside. By 9:30, it was lights out upon punishment of death. Next month….escape!