On this site during the Civil War was located Camp Ford the largest prisoner of war compound for Union troops west of Mississippi river named in honor of Col. John S. "Rip" Ford who originally established a training camp here in 1862. It was . . . — — Map (db m26916) HM
The initial prisoners to arrive at Camp Ford were kept in the open with no stockade. Panic resulted with the arrival with over 600 prisoners October 23, 1863. The Camp Commander, Col. R.T.P. Allen, with only 40 guards, discovered a plot among the . . . — — Map (db m59725) HM
In March 1862, the movement of the Confederate army in Northern Arkansas to the Mississippi River left the northern frontier of the Trans-Mississippi virtually defenseless. Immediate efforts in Texas were made to raise new regiments for service . . . — — Map (db m60180) HM
In June 1863, CS General Richard Taylor commenced a campaign in South Louisiana that resulted in the capture of a number of Union troops in the Morgan City area. The enlisted men were paroled, but the officers were detained and sent to Shreveport. . . . — — Map (db m60181) HM
Camp Ford had the distinction of having the most naval prisoners of any camp, North or South. There was no coordination between the branches, with each responsible for arranging the exchange of their men. By the fall of 1864, the naval prisoners, . . . — — Map (db m60184) HM
The issues of African Americans in the military became a keystone of controversy involving the politics of prisoner
of war exchange. This issue did not start in the east, but in the theater of the Mississippi river, and Camp Ford
became a . . . — — Map (db m60186) HM
The initial guards at the camp were local militia commanded by a regular officer, Captain S.M. Warner. With the
arrival of the Fordoche prisoners in October 1863, their numbers were inadequate, and an independent Cavalry
company, the . . . — — Map (db m60197) HM
During the winter of 1863-64 the camp housed only about 170 prisoners, mostly officers. Life was generally
pleasant and the men were well treated. Prison crafts and endeavors flourished. Fairly substantial log cabins were
erected. Streets . . . — — Map (db m60203) HM
