Alton Military Prison Video
Check out this video by The History Underground. The host takes you on a tour of Alton Prison located in Alton Illinois just across the Mississippi River from St. Louis. He provides many interesting facts about the prison during the American Civil War.
Alton Military Prison
In 1862, the U.S. government the prison to house Confederate prisoners of war during the American Civil War. The prison housed over 11,000 prisoners during the war. Deaths at the prison were more common than at other Union prisons. Prisoners faced harsh conditions and regular outbreaks of diseases.