Scotland in St. Mary's County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Camp Hoffman

Point Lookout State Park

— Maryland Park Service —

Camp Hoffman Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 11, 2026

1. Camp Hoffman Marker

Inscription.

Camp Hoffman. Point Lookout State Park. , You are now standing within the walls of the Civil War prison pen. Even though the camp is generally referred to as "Point Lookout", it was officially named, "Camp Hoffman" in honor of Union Colonel William Hoffman, Commissary General Prisoners of War., The wooden stockade of Camp Hoffman was designed to accommodate 10,000 Confederate prisoners of war. The enlisted men's "camp" comprised approximately 28 to 30 acres. An additional stockade of 7 to 8 acres, was constructed separately, south of this stockade to accommodate captured Confederate officers. These two stockades were joined in June 1864 after the transfer of all Confederate officers to Fort Delaware., Point Lookout would become the largest northern prison camp established by the United States Government during the Civil War. It was in operation as a prison depot from July 31, 1863 until June 30, 1865. Over 52,000 prisoners would pass thru the main gate of the prison by the time the prison closed. Unfortunately, nothing remains of Camp Hoffman today. The walls of the stockades and their interior buildings were torn down and sold for salvage by 1866. The ravages of ensuing storms since then have changed the features of much of Civil War Point Lookout., Point Lookout was a gift to the people of Maryland establishing the state park in 1965. A faithful reconstruction of the southwest corner and other structures of Camp Hoffman are provided and maintained by the Park Staff of Point Lookout State Park and The Friends of Point Lookout, Inc., [Caption:] , Eight Mess Halls were constructed in a row along the inside of the western wall of the enlisted stockade. They accommodated the cooking and issuing of rations. A smaller building located near the main gate was used as a commissary to store rations., The organization of the prison comprised a sutler shop, post office and bulletin board. At least seven water pumps were located near the fronts of the mess halls providing a water source for the cook houses as well as the prisoners.

You are now standing within the walls of the Civil War prison pen. Even though the camp is generally referred to as "Point Lookout", it was officially named, "Camp Hoffman" in honor of Union Colonel William Hoffman, Commissary General Prisoners of War.

The wooden stockade of Camp Hoffman was designed to accommodate 10,000 Confederate prisoners of war. The enlisted men's "camp" comprised approximately 28 to 30 acres. An additional stockade of 7 to 8 acres, was constructed separately, south of this stockade to accommodate captured Confederate officers. These two stockades were joined in June 1864 after the transfer of all Confederate officers to Fort Delaware.

Point Lookout would become the largest northern prison camp established by the United States Government during the Civil War. It was in operation as a prison depot from July 31, 1863 until June 30, 1865. Over 52,000 prisoners would pass thru the main gate of the prison by the time the prison closed. Unfortunately, nothing remains of Camp Hoffman today. The walls of the stockades and their interior buildings were torn down and sold for salvage by 1866. The ravages

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of ensuing storms since then have changed the features of much of Civil War Point Lookout.

Point Lookout was a gift to the people of Maryland establishing the state park in 1965. A faithful reconstruction of the southwest corner and other structures of Camp Hoffman are provided and maintained by the Park Staff of Point Lookout State Park and The Friends of Point Lookout, Inc.

[Caption:]
Eight Mess Halls were constructed in a row along the inside of the western wall of the enlisted stockade. They accommodated the cooking and issuing of rations. A smaller building located near the main gate was used as a commissary to store rations.

The organization of the prison comprised a sutler shop, post office and bulletin board. At least seven water pumps were located near the fronts of the mess halls providing a water source for the cook houses as well as the prisoners.

Erected by Maryland Park Service; Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Parks & Recreational Areas • War, US Civil. A significant historical month for this entry is June 1864.

Location. 38° 3.031′ N, 76° 19.335′ W.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 11, 2026

2. Camp Hoffman Marker

Marker is in Scotland, Maryland, in St. Mary's County. It is on Point Lookout Road (Maryland Route 5) 2 miles south of 3rd Way, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 10485 Point Lookout Rd, Scotland MD 20687, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southern Maryland.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in the Mid-Atlantic,

in the Tidewater,

in the Chesapeake Bay Region,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies

and also the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Point Lookout Prisoner-of-War Camp (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Post Office at Camp Hoffman (about 700 feet away); The Prison Sutler (about 800 feet away); Point Lookout Prison, 1863-1865 (about 800 feet away); Prisoners of War at Point Lookout (approx.

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0.2 miles away); "Contraband" Camp (approx. 0.2 miles away); United States Colored Troops (approx. 0.2 miles away); The 5th Massachusetts Colored Cavalry (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Scotland.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Prison Pen (was approx. 0.2 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Credits. This page was last revised on April 16, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 16, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 13 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 16, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.