Newly-Located Confederate Camp Lawton, Georgia

From the August 19th Washington Post.

Camp Lawton was built to relieve crowding at Camp Sumter at Andersonville and only occupied 37 days from October to November 1864 when Sherman burned it on his March to the Sea.

It was evacuated November 26, 1864, and the prisoners sent to other camps. During the time it was occupied, some 700-1300 Union prisoners died. It is assumed that the remains were removed but there are indications at the newly-relocated site that some bodies are still on site.

It has always been known where the general location of the camp was, but the exact spot has not been known until now.

While searching for the stockade remains, archaeologists found many belongings of former inmates.

The site was part of Magnolia Springs State Park but was turned over to the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

The artifacts will be on display at Georgia Southern University starting on October 10th.


From Georgia PBS Radio-- There is high security at Camp Lawton. A brand new 8-foot high fence topped with barb wire surrounds the site.

One of the artifacts found is a modified white clay pipe with a bullet melted down for the bowl. Talk about your getting baccy and lead at the same time. How can that not be healthy?

Always Neat When Something is Rediscovered. --Old B-Runner