Johnson's Island facts for kids
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Johnson Island Civil War Prison and Fort Site
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The cemetery at Johnson's Island
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | Johnson's Island, Marblehead, Ottawa County, Ohio, United States |
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| Built | 1862 |
| Architect | Hoffman, Col. William H.; Et al. |
| NRHP reference No. | 75001514 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | March 27, 1975 |
| Designated NHL | June 21, 1990 |
| Johnson's Island Prison | |
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| Part of American Civil War prison camps | |
| Johnson's Island, Marblehead, Ottawa County, Ohio, United States | |
Johnson's Island Prison barracks enclosed by a stockade in 1865
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| Type | Union Prison Camp |
| Site information | |
| Owner | L. B. Johnson, U.S. Government |
| Controlled by | Union Army |
| Site history | |
| In use | 1862–1865 |
| Demolished | 1865 |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
| Garrison information | |
| Occupants | Union soldiers, Confederate officer prisoners of war |
Johnson's Island is a 300-acre (120 ha) island. It is located in Sandusky Bay on the coast of Lake Erie. The island is about 3 miles (4.8 km) from Sandusky, Ohio.
During the American Civil War, Johnson's Island was a special place. It held a prisoner-of-war camp for Confederate officers. These were high-ranking soldiers captured by the Union Army. At first, it was the only Union prison just for officers. Later, it also held other prisoners. This included regular soldiers, political prisoners, and even spies. Over 15,000 men were held here during the war.
The island got its name from L. B. Johnson. He owned the island starting around 1852. Before that, it was called 'Bull's Island' by its first owner, Epaphras W. Bull, in 1809.
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Johnson's Island During the Civil War
In late 1861, the U.S. government chose Johnson's Island for a prison camp. They planned for it to hold up to 2,500 captured Confederate officers. The island was a good choice for several reasons. Ships could easily bring supplies to build and run the prison. Sandusky Bay offered more protection from bad weather. It was also farther from Canada, which helped prevent prisoners from escaping there. The island also had many hickory and oak trees. These trees provided wood for building and fuel for fires. The U.S. government rented half the island from Leonard B. Johnson for $500 a year. They controlled who could go to the island for the whole war.
Building and Life Inside the Prison
The prison opened in April 1862. It covered about 16.5 acres (6.7 ha). A tall wooden fence, called a stockade, surrounded the prison. This fence was 15 feet (4.6 m) high. Inside, there were 12 two-story buildings for prisoners. There was also a hospital, bathrooms, and a store. This store, called a sutler's stand, sold goods to the prisoners. The prison also had three wells for water. Later, two large dining halls were added in 1864.
Outside the prison walls, there were more than 40 buildings. These included barns, stables, and a limekiln. There were also forts and barracks for the guards. A powder magazine stored gunpowder. The 128th Ohio Infantry Regiment guarded the prison.
Prisoners on Johnson's Island had a lively community. Many officers received money from home. They used this money to buy things at the sutler's store. The prisoners put on plays and made crafts. They even published their own writings.
Forts and Challenges
In 1864, a group of Confederates tried to take a warship. This ship was the USS Michigan on the Great Lakes. They also planned a large prison break. After this, two new forts were built. These were Fort Johnson and Fort Hill. They were built during the winter of 1864–65. The forts became ready for use in March 1865. At this time, the prison held the most prisoners, about 3,200 men.
Johnson's Island closed in September 1865. Over 15,000 men had been held there. About 200 prisoners died. This was due to the cold Ohio winters, not enough food or fuel, and sickness. Two hundred six prisoners were buried in the Confederate Cemetery on the island. In 1908, the United Daughters of the Confederacy bought the cemetery. Johnson's Island had one of the lowest death rates of any Civil War prison.
Many prisoners tried to escape. Some even tried to walk across the frozen Lake Erie to Canada. But only a few of these attempts were successful.
After the Civil War
After the war ended, the prison camp was no longer used. The United States Army sold most of the buildings. Some buildings fell apart and were torn down. The last old house on the island burned down in 1901.
Around 1894, a summer resort opened on the eastern part of the island. Its main building burned down in 1897. Even though it was rebuilt, the resort did not last. The land was then used for farming and digging rocks. Later, many homes were built along the lake. The island was developed with two new neighborhoods. Because of this building, most of the old Civil War sites are now gone.
On June 8, 1910, a statue was put up. It was called Southern or the Lookout. This statue was made by Moses Ezekiel. It honors the Confederate prisoners who were held on the island.
In 1990, Johnson's Island became a National Historic Landmark. This means it is a very important historical site. A road, called a causeway, was built to connect the island to the mainland. The Confederate cemetery and Fort Hill are open for people to visit. Studies using ground-penetrating radar have shown that some graves are outside the cemetery fence. Heidelberg University does archeology digs at the prison site every year.
A group called Friends and Descendants of Johnson's Island Civil War Prison started in 2001. They help protect, explain, and research the prison site. They work with Heidelberg University to offer educational programs.
Notable Inmates
Several well-known Confederate officers were held prisoner on Johnson's Island.
- Isaac R. Trimble (1802–1888), a high-ranking Confederate major general.
- James J. Archer (1817–1864), a Confederate brigadier general.
- William Beall (1825–1883), a Confederate brigadier general.
- Thomas Benton Smith (1838–1923), a Confederate brigadier general.
- Edward "Allegheny" Johnson (1816–1873), a Confederate major general.
- M. Jeff Thompson (1826–1876), a brigadier general in the Missouri State Guard.
- John S. Marmaduke (1833–1887), a Confederate major general.
- William Lewis Cabell (1827–1911), a Confederate brigadier general.
- Christopher Columbus Nash (1838–1922), a Confederate soldier and fighter.
- John Marshall Stone (1830–1900), a Confederate colonel.
- James Steptoe Johnston (1843–1924), a Confederate lieutenant.
- William Tennent Stockton (1812-1869), a Confederate colonel from the 1st Florida Cavalry Regiment.
