Fort McHenry (American Civil War)

Buckeye Bill

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* During the American Civil War, Fort McHenry served as a Federal transfer prison camp for Southern sympathizers and confederate prisoners of war. Usually, prisoners were confined at the fort for short periods of time before being transferred to such larger prisons as Point Lookout, Fort Delaware or Johnson's Island.

In May, 1861, Federal officials began arresting Marylanders suspected of being Confederate sympathizers. Many never were charged with a crime and never received trials. Others were released after pledging not to "render any aid or comfort to the enemies of the Union," or by taking an oath of allegiance.
Life at Fort McHenry was very difficult. Each prisoner was given one blanket, but was denied bedding, chairs, stools, wash basins and eating utensils. They used a tin cup, pocket knife, hardtack for a plate, and forks and spoons whittled from bits of wood. Prisoners received three meals each day: breakfast, consisting of coffee and hardtack; a second meal of bean soup and hardtack; and a main meal of coffee, 1/2 pound of salt pork or pickled beef and hardtack. Occasionally, the meat would be rancid and the hardtack moldy. Those prisoners who could afford to do so, bought fresh fruits, vegetables and comfort items from sutlers. Also, sympathizers from Baltimore sent large quantities of food, clothing, blankets and money.

The prisoners spent their time engaged in a number of activities. They formed literary societies and debating teams. Many made trinkets which they traded for extra rations. There were daily ball games and rat hunts. Each evening, the prisoners staged a show. Those imprisoned at Fort McHenry came from all classes of civilian population and from all ranks of the military. Among the most prominent civilians detained at the fort were the marshal of the Baltimore City Police force and the board of police commissioners, the mayor of Baltimore, a former governor of Maryland, members of the House of Delegates from Baltimore City and County, the congressman from the 4th Congressional District, a state senator, newspaper editors, including the grandson of Francis Scott Key, ministers, doctors, judges and lawyers. Prisoners of war included privates, officers, chaplains and surgeons.

At times, the inmate population swelled to numbers that severely strained the prison facilities. In February, 1862, there were only 126 prisoners at Fort McHenry. Early in 1863, the number of prisoners totalled 800. However, in July, 1863, following the battle of Gettysburg, there were 6,957 prisoners. After the large Gettysburg influx was dispersed, the monthly total ranged between 250 and 350 prisoners. During the last months of the war, the number dwindled sharply; and in September, 1865, there were only 4 prisoners at the fort. At the end of 1865, only a small detachment of Federal troops remained to handle routine maintenance.

In contrast to the high death tolls at other prisons, the death toll at Fort McHenry was only 15. At least three men were executed at the fort. These included a Federal soldier hanged for the murder of an officer, another, shot after having been found guilty of desertion and the attempted murder of several civilians, and a confederate sympathizer found guilty of murdering two civilians while practicing guerrilla warfare.
Because of its role as a prison camp during the Civil War, Fort McHenry became known as the "Baltimore Bastille."

* National Park Service

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Visited the fort last summer. Of course, mainly went because of 1812. I never realized tge role the fort played during the Civil War and during the two world wars.

I first visited this venue in 2000 with my family. I thought this fort was only used in the War of 1812. I had no clue about its American Civil War history and beyond.

Bill
 
An interesting fort and one of the few American built forts with a ravelin (the triangular outwork in the ditch in front of the gate). During the War of 1812 the ditch was considerably deeper and crossed by two bridges, one from the covered way to the ravelin and another from the ravelin to the gate.

A weakness of the fort was the lack of bombproof casemates; when the British attacked the fort with mortars from specialized bomb vessels most of the garrison sheltered in the ditch.
 
I'm curious of the NPS term "Historic Shrine" for this site. I see it includes designation as a monument; which I get because they use that term consistently elsewhere, but what additionally distinguishes this NPS site as a "shrine"?*

imho it's odd. We don't exactly "worship" history do we? (if Lost Causers do).



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* typical governmentspeak, this link is no help: http://npshistory.com/publications/park_recreation_structures/part2k.htm

The first time I heard the term "SHRINE" attached to a NPS site was the Stonewall Jackson Shrine at Guinea Station, Virginia. The term struck me in a very odd way.

Bill
 
Buckeye Bill. Thanks for the photos. There was also a hospital for union wounded on what is now the grounds of the fort, I believe. Also I thought the "shrine" designation had to do with the Star Spangled Banner being written during, and referring to, the bombardment of the fort.
 
Buckeye Bill. Thanks for the photos. There was also a hospital for union wounded on what is now the grounds of the fort, I believe. Also I thought the "shrine" designation had to do with the Star Spangled Banner being written during, and referring to, the bombardment of the fort.

Sounds plausible......

Bill
 
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