Thomasville History Series - Civil War Prison Camp
This geocache is located at the site of Thomasville’s Civil War Prison Camp. Parking is availible along Wolf Street. Please refrain from hunting this cache after dark. Happy caching!
For two and a half weeks in 1864, this site served as the temporary prison for 5,000 Union captives. These prisoners, like many others of the 32,000 held at the infamous Andersonville Prison, were moved from Andersonville with the news of Sherman’s approach.
The prison camp was surrounded by an 8 to 10-foot deep and 10 to 12-foot wide ditch dug by enslaved African Americans. This ditch is the only visible evidence of the Prison Camp remaining today.
After being brought to Thomasville by train, hundreds of prisoners died of small pox and other diseases under the watch of Colonel Henry Forno.
Excavation efforts have shown evidence of the prison camp and human remains on the site.
THIS GEOCACHE IS JUST ONE OF SIXTEEN IN THE THOMASVILLE HISTORY GEOCACHING SERIES. THIS ENTERTAINING AND INFORMATIVE SERIES LEADS GEOCACHERS ON AN EXCITING TOUR OF THOMASVILLE, GEORGIA. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE SERIES OR TO SEE THE ROUTE, CLICK HERE!