Camp Morton, Civil War prison camp in Indianapolis, United States
Camp Morton was a Civil War prison camp in Indianapolis covering approximately 36 acres with wooden barracks, guard towers, and holding structures. The facility was specifically designed to house thousands of captured Confederate soldiers during the war.
Opened in 1861 as a Union Army training facility, the site became a prison camp in 1862 after the Battle of Fort Donelson brought large numbers of Confederate captives. This transformation made it grow quickly into one of the North's major detention facilities.
The camp served as a record-keeping center for captured soldiers, with photographs and personal accounts documenting their experiences. These documents became part of the Library of Congress collection and offer visitors a window into the lives of prisoners.
Visitors can find historical markers and monuments at Crown Hill Cemetery today, where about 1600 Confederate soldiers from the camp are buried in a dedicated section. The cemetery provides an accessible location to remember these soldiers and learn about their wartime experience.
The site had different purposes before and after the war, including serving as the location of the Indiana State Fair. This shift from recreation ground to prison camp to historic neighborhood reflects the varied ways the land was used throughout its history.
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