Belle Isle

Belle Isle
“Island of Misery”

Photo by Bruce Ingram

SITE OF SUFFERING
During the Civil War over 30,000 northern enlisted men passed through this six-acre open air prison.  Without much shelter, food, or sanitation they died by the hundreds in squalor and misery. Inconceivable today, it was official policy on both sides then to make prisoners too weak to rebel or fight again.

CANONS & CORPSES
Big guns on the hill deterred riots in the over-crowed prison encampment. Few escaped, most died of starvation, dysentery and disease.
In total about 1,000 men perished.
From the Historical Markers from James River Park System, Richmond, Va.

“Walt Whitman’s question when he saw prisoners returning from Belle Isle can give us some insight into the human suffering endured there. He said, ‘Can those be men? Those little livid brown, ash streaked, monkey-looking dwarves Are they not really mummified, dwindled corpses?'”
www.censusdiggins.com/prison_bellisle.html

Site of Hospital #21.
Photo by Susan Ingram

James Kinsella was confined at Belle Isle from July 21, 1863, until admitted to the hospital at Richmond, Va., on November 13, 1863. Most prisoners from Belle Isle were sent to Hospital #21, located at the corner of E. Cary and S. 25th streets. He was transferred Div. No. 1 USA General Hospital, Annapolis, Md., on November 18, 1863.