- Joined
- Dec 3, 2011
- Location
- Laurinburg NC
“Oak Woods Cemetery is home to the Confederate Mound, said to be the largest mass grave in the entire Western Hemisphere. The southern Civil War soldiers found their way to this resting place via Camp Douglas, a training ground turned overcrowded prisoner of war camp. Set on land not far from Lake Michigan, soldiers were subjected to severe cold and wind that tore through their hastily built barracks. They were also subjected to mistreatment by the cruel and inexperienced guards employed to keep the citizens of Chicago safe.
Most of the soldiers died from diseases such as scurvy, dysentery, and smallpox in the camp, but some were shot as punishment. Camp Douglas lived up to its nickname “80 Acres of Hell.”
http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/confederate-mass-grave-in-chicago
Most of the soldiers died from diseases such as scurvy, dysentery, and smallpox in the camp, but some were shot as punishment. Camp Douglas lived up to its nickname “80 Acres of Hell.”
http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/confederate-mass-grave-in-chicago