Unlikely Allies : Fort Delaware's Prison Community in the Civil War

During the Civil War, over 30,000 Southern prisoners passed through the gates of Fort Delaware over the course of three years. As with all Civil War prison camps, Fort Delaware gained a reputation for wretched living conditions and is still called the 'Andersonville of the North' by some historians. Undoubtedly, there were suffering and death at the prison, but a thorough examination reveals a markedly different picture: that of a group of men and women determined not only to survive, but to thrive as well, despite harsh circumstances. *16-page b/w photo section * 3 maps * 6 x 9 "Mr. Fetzer and Mr. Mowday's broad knowledge of the Civil War and their engaging style have succeeded in providing a close and personal look at Fort Delaware's creators and inhabitants."--Leland C. Jennings' Jr. Fort Delaware State Park During the American Civil War, Fort Delaware housed more than 30,000 Confederate prisoners over the course of three years. In this first-ever study of the POW camp, the authors delve into the issues that everyone on the island poor drainage, lack of provisions, overcrowding, boredom, disease, and worse. But the men and women forced to endure the harsh conditions also determined to carve out a community--to not only survive, but perhaps even thrive. This remarkable story of that community will shatter all previously held ideas about life in a Civil War POW camp. Dale Fetzer Jr. has been a technical adviser for numerous films, including Gettysburg, Glory, and Andersonville. He is the lead historical interpreter for Fort Delaware State Park. Bruce E. Mowday, a contributing editor to Military Images magazine, is a journalist with more than 25 years of experience, having written thousands of newspaper and magazine articles. During the American Civil War, Fort Delaware housed more than 30,000 Confederate prisoners over the course of three years. In this first-ever study of the POW camp, the authors delve into the issues that everyone on the island confronted: poor drainage, lack of provisions, overcrowding, boredom, disease, and worse. But the men and women forced to endure the harsh conditions also determined to carve out a community -- to not only survive, but perhaps even thrive. This remarkable story of that community will shatter all previously held ideas about life in a Civil War POW camp. Dale Fetzer And Bruce Mowday ; Foreword By Leland C. Jennings. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 167-170) And Index.