Salisbury Confederate Prison Symposium

By Ed and Sue Curtis

Soon after North Carolina seceded from the union on May 20, 1861, the Confederate Government sought a location for a military prison. Property in Salisbury was chosen near the railroad and an abandoned cotton factory, houses and wells.

The renovation of the buildings and construction of a stockade fence had begun when the first prisoners arrived in December. They usually came by train, marching a few blocks to the prison gates.

Conditions began to deteriorate as the population increased; supplies decreased as the war continued. By October 1864, a prison built for 2,500 had 5,000 prisoners, a number doubled to 10,000 a month later. The death rate soared from two percent to 28 percent; a trench system was implemented for burials without identification of bodies. It is estimated that some 5,000 died from the date it opened until February 1865 when the last prisoners were sent for exchange. It was burned when Union troops entered in April.

Approximately 15,000 prisoners were sent to Salisbury and more than a thousand guards. Some guards remained during most of the war, assisted by additional soldiers at various times. Ten of the Prison Commandants have been identified. Prisoners included POWs, political prisoners, civilians, and Confederate soldiers. Although there is no master list of all prisoners and guards, thousands have been identified haling from 32 states and the District of Columbia.

To assist in the search for information, the Robert F. Hoke Chapter 78, United Daughters of the Confederacy^®, established the first Salisbury Confederate Prison Symposium in 1998. The chapter has continued to bring together descendants and historians to share information about the prison and those who were incarcerated. The 20th Annual Symposium will be held April 28-30. Chapter members work to keep the price low with a single fee covering all sessions.

The Salisbury Confederate Prison Association, Inc., was organized in 1999 by Symposium attendees. This group, which has a $10 membership fee, reports on the historical research in a quarterly award-winning newsletter, The Prison Exchange.

Members have sponsored an archaeological dig; acquired property and established a Memorial Park on the prison site; collected copies of letters and maps; listed books relating to the prison; and created a website (salisburyprison.org). Several members have written books and articles and given lectures and tours.