Blackshear Civil War Prison Camp

Unknown soldiers buried in the Blackshear Prison camp were later reinterred after the war to Beaufort National Cemetery, Beaufort, South Carolina.

Hallowed Ground. Some 5,000 Union soldiers camped here for several weeks being transported from Savannah and later on to the Thomasville Prison Camp, and then back to Andersonville Prison.

A similar appearance of how the Blackshear Prison Camp would have appeared on the hillside on the outskirts of Blackshear, Nov.-Dec. 1864.

Quite fascinating to have a member of the 69th New York pass through Blackshear, Georgia... Andersonville National Cemetery Archives: France C. Curtis claimed that an angel appeared to him and saved his life during his imprisonment in the Civil War. This angel took the form of a little, short, thick-set, snub-nose Irishman. After being transferred to the Blackshear Prison Camp, Francis found himself laying near a man named Thomas Mulhern. In his memoir, Curtis wrote:... He and two or three of his henchmen lay by very near me. I did not like the looks of the party was, in fact, a little afraid of them, and wished they were not quite so near neighbors to me. But one day, Mulhern said to me that I ought to have some flour, sweet potatoes and eggssaid he would get me more, which he did. When we got back to Andersonville, he said he would get me what I wanted, and I could pay him then I got home. He was from New York, I from Massachusetts; he was Roman Catholic in his theological beliefs, I a Protestant; he an Irishman, I a Yankee, no tie of relationship, nothing but the bonds of comradeshipyet he gave me what I needed. I asked him to let my friend, John E. Davis, who was taking care of me, have the same credit that I did, and he agreed to it. As a sequel to this transaction, I will add that Davis reached New York City in May 1865 and hunted up Mulhern and paid him our bill. I have his receipt for about $28. That is the last I ever heard of Thomas Mulhern. I often think of him and wonder if he is still alive. Is he rich or is he poor? These are the questions I often think of but am unable to answer. Thomas Mulhern saved my life at Andersonville; of that I have no doubt. Thomas Mulhern was a member of the 69th New York. The unit was known as the Fighting Sixty-Ninth, a name said to have been given it by Robert E. Lee. He was captured on June 22, 1864 near Petersburg, Virginia (Petersburg National Battlefield). Part 3 of 6 To learn more about Francis C. Curtis’ story, look for Part 4 tomorrow. Image Description: The 69th New York was a regiment in the famous Irish Brigade. Here they attack the Stone Wall at the 1st Battle of Fredericksburg (Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania County Battlefields National Military Park) in December 1862.

The old Riggins Gas Station/Store stands on a section of the grounds of the original Civil War Prison Camp. It would make a perfect Visitor Center some day.

Views of this hallowed ground which was once the site of more than 5,000 Union prisoners of war and several hundred Confederate soldiers guarding them. This ground should be preserved as a historic landmark.

Situated on a sloped hill just outside the town of Blackshear, this view of Andersonville was very similar how Blackshear appeared in November 1864..