One of the side trips we took on our way to Gettysburg was to Fort Delaware on Pea Patch Island in the middle of the Delaware River between New Jersey and Delaware. It was used to house Confederate prisoners of war and most of those captured at the Battle of Gettysburg including these guys from the famous Matthew Brady photograph taken in the days after the battle in Gettysburg.
We picked up the boat to the fort from New Jersey for the 40 minute ride to the island. You can also board from Delaware City on the Delaware side of the river...
The fort is surrounded by a moat and quite impressive...
The inside of the fort looks much like the interior of Fort Sumter with the arching casements and the red brick...
A few original civil war era heavy artillery pieces are found in the fort. A live fire demonstration is given everyday the fort is open to the public...
This diorama depicts the fort and the barracks that housed over 16,000 Confederate prisoners as it appeared during the war. Escape attempts were infrequent but most that were attempted were unsuccessful due to the strong tidal currents which usually resulted in the drowning of the escapees. Conditions were harsh and many men died each day from disease...
This place is a lost gem of Civil War sites and a must see for all you history enthusiasts out there. You won't be disappointed.
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