BLACKSHEAR

Preserving Our Heritage for Future Generations

~ Historic Sites ~

WAR BETWEEN THE STATES PRISON CAMP

PATTERSON:

In late November 1864 with the threat of General William T. Sherman
storming through Georgia toward the coast, over 5000 Union prisoners, under
the guard of Colonel Henry Forno and the 2nd & 4th Georgia Reserves, were
transported by rail from Savannah to a temporary prison camp established on
the outskirts of Blackshear. While imprisoned here Union soldiers died and
were buried throughout the town. The National Archives has documented 27
Union soldiers having died and buried here. In 1869 their bodies were
reentered at the Beaufort National Cemetery in Beaufort, SC. It is
questionable as to whether there are more Union soldiers buried in
Blackshear as there are no detailed records of the prison deaths. An exhibit
in the Heritage Museum tells the story of the prison in more detail. There
is an historic marker designating the site on Hwy 203 North.

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