Johnson's Island Civil War Military Prison - Archaeological Field School

The Johnson's Island Civil War Prison site is located on a small island in Sandusky Bay, Lake Erie near Marblehead, Ohio and has been under investigation since 1989 by Dr. David R. Bush of Heidelberg University. From April 1862 until the end of the war, Johnson's Island Civil War Military Prison held over 10,000 soldiers captured at hundreds of battles during the Civil War. Johnson's Island is unique in its purpose (it housed only Confederate Officers), in its military garrison (recruited specifically for guard duties) and in its condition (as an archaeological site) and in the existence of a wealth of prisoner generated documents that give a day-to-day account of how the prisoners saw their predicament. The 16.5 acre Johnson’s Island Prison Compound contained 13 Blocks (12 as prisoner housing units and one as a hospital), latrines, sutler’s stand, 3 wells, pest house, 2 large mess halls and more. There were more than 40 buildings outside the stockade and two major fortifications (Forts Johnson and Hill). This coming summer (2009) we will be conducting an excavation of Block 6, the Prison Hospital. We will also be exploring Feature 40, one of the latrines behind Block 6 and searching for additional latrines. The prisoners on Johnson’s Island endured harsh winters, food and fuel shortages, disease, along with the mental anguish of uncertainty about their families and their own futures. Current research suggests that close to 250 prisoners died on Johnson’s Island during the war. The Confederate Cemetery, located on Johnson’s Island is currently the only publicly available part of the prison. We are offering a five week field school. No previous experience is required. The program is designed for undergraduate college students, graduating high school seniors, or adults/graduate students interested in gaining intensive field experience. The field school can be taken for college credit (6 undergraduate credit hours) or it can be audited (no college credit earned), but registration must be for the full five week/full day session. Participants in the field school will gain experience in basic excavation techniques, on-site photography, the recording of archaeological data, and identification and conservation of historic cultural materials. This is an excellent opportunity to gain archaeological experience as well as learn about the American Civil War and the prison system.