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From The National Museum of Civil War Medicine
#HumpDayHistory
(Civil War medicine facts to get you through the longest day of the week)
Mapping Elmira
Nathan S. Cox enlisted in the Confederate army on September 1, 1862, and was mustered into Co. A, 50th Virginia Infantry. He was listed as missing on May 5, 1864, during the first day of the Battle of the Wilderness. Cox served time at Elmira prison before being transferred to Point Lookout, Maryland, where he was paroled on March 2, 1865. After his release, Cox, from memory was able to create an elaborate 15.5" x 12" hand-drawn map titled "Plan of the Ground Work of the U.S. Prison at Elmira City New York." The map shows that upon entering through the gate, you would travel down "Main Street," to the prisoner's barracks on the left and hospital on the right. The hospital was made up of two long buildings set at a right angle from each other. Further down Main Street was the dining area, sutler's store, bakery, carpenter's shop, cook's room, wash room, and sergeant's quarters, according to the map. Beyond a creek behind the buildings were groupings of tents used for a small pox/convalescent hospital and the gangrene hospital. An estimated 3,000 Confederate prisoners died of exposure to cold weather, disease, and other physical hardships while imprisoned at Elmira during the Civil War.
According to his descendants, following the war, Cox returned home where he went into business, worked as a surveyor, served as the executor of estates, and as a mediator of disputes.
Photo: Heritage Auctions, Dallas
On his map, Cox explained, "The Double lines on the margin Represents the fence enclosing the Prison for Rebels at Elmira City N.Y. while the Squares & figures attached Represent the centrie [sic] boxes."
Photo: Heritage Auctions, Dallas
Located near the intersection of two railroads in Elmira, New York, the Elmira Confederate Prison Camp was one of the largest in the North. "Hellmira," as the camp was called by the prisoners, was operational through July 1865.
Photo: Library of Congress
#HumpDayHistory
(Civil War medicine facts to get you through the longest day of the week)
Mapping Elmira
Nathan S. Cox enlisted in the Confederate army on September 1, 1862, and was mustered into Co. A, 50th Virginia Infantry. He was listed as missing on May 5, 1864, during the first day of the Battle of the Wilderness. Cox served time at Elmira prison before being transferred to Point Lookout, Maryland, where he was paroled on March 2, 1865. After his release, Cox, from memory was able to create an elaborate 15.5" x 12" hand-drawn map titled "Plan of the Ground Work of the U.S. Prison at Elmira City New York." The map shows that upon entering through the gate, you would travel down "Main Street," to the prisoner's barracks on the left and hospital on the right. The hospital was made up of two long buildings set at a right angle from each other. Further down Main Street was the dining area, sutler's store, bakery, carpenter's shop, cook's room, wash room, and sergeant's quarters, according to the map. Beyond a creek behind the buildings were groupings of tents used for a small pox/convalescent hospital and the gangrene hospital. An estimated 3,000 Confederate prisoners died of exposure to cold weather, disease, and other physical hardships while imprisoned at Elmira during the Civil War.
According to his descendants, following the war, Cox returned home where he went into business, worked as a surveyor, served as the executor of estates, and as a mediator of disputes.
Photo: Heritage Auctions, Dallas
On his map, Cox explained, "The Double lines on the margin Represents the fence enclosing the Prison for Rebels at Elmira City N.Y. while the Squares & figures attached Represent the centrie [sic] boxes."
Photo: Heritage Auctions, Dallas
Located near the intersection of two railroads in Elmira, New York, the Elmira Confederate Prison Camp was one of the largest in the North. "Hellmira," as the camp was called by the prisoners, was operational through July 1865.
Photo: Library of Congress
Bringing the