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Re: Camp Douglas Expert
In Response To: Camp Douglas Expert ()

David, the answer to the first part of your question is "no". Sadly, marked graves of any of the Confederate soldiers are rare. I know for certain that some black soldiers died at 80 Acres of Hell. Three black soldiers captured from Morgan's Raid were unaccounted for, but one black soldier is listed as "died November 5,1863. Berry Black, negro. Co. D, 15th TN Cavalry Captured 7-20-'63".

From the book, "To Die in Chicago..." Seven black men came with the Ft. Donelson contingent and stayed for the seven month duration. None of them died. Anyway, that is what is listed on the official prisoner rolls. There are an estimated 2,000 dead soldiers that were not named in the official records. The Union commandants were very careless about records.

"Most of the dead, about 3,384 (named dead), went to Potter's Field in Chicago's City Cemetery, while quartermaster buried 655 smallpox cases across from camp on the Douglas estate.....The potter's field, or paupers' section at City Cemetery, was the worst burial place imaginable". It was a damn swamp. The graves were not cared for, some were robbed and many washed into a lake. Allegedly, many of the graves were moved to Oak Woods Cemetery, site of the monument to these American soldiers.

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Camp Douglas Expert
Re: Camp Douglas Expert
Re: Camp Douglas Expert