Hi: I am in Rock Island and close to the Confederate Cemetery. I know the prisoner list is on line but thought you might like to know a little of the local history of the prison. While some called Rock Island the Andersonville of the North, it wasn't quite as bad statistically. Elmira in New York was worse. The prison in Rock Island had Barracks and stoves for warmth against the Northern Cold. The City of Rock Island was founded by many Southerners and the ladies took food and medicine to the prisoners which was allowed by the command. The biggest cause of death here was small pox. The first group of prisoners that were brought in carried small pox and it quickly took over the camp. However, the North did rub salt into the wounds as the camp was guarded by the 139th Colored Troops who had priviously been in battle. Yet with the double standard in the North these troops were not even buried in the National Cemetery, but in a little private area behind the National Cemetery. Every Memorial Day there is a service both at National and Confederate and this past year there were Confederate Flags put on all the graves and American in the National. A special program was given and the speaker at the Confederate cemetery was a local black attorney, who held no "malice as these men were fighting for what they believed was right, and deserved to be remembered". There are also lists available of Confederates who joined the Union to fight the Indians. These can be found by writing the U.S. National Cemetery. The Confederate Cemetery is kept up beautifully and we have taken photos of some graves and sent to people who are impressed with the upkeep. Some of the markers have been replaced by new ones and the grass is kept neatly mowed. If you would like to put this on the list for everyone else feel free to do so. Marilyn - -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------- (Thought everyone might like to see this) Desoto Joe/The Record Man