Fort McHenry Military Prison During the Civil War

This database documents the estimated 23,000 Confederate soldiers and political prisoners who were imprisoned at Fort McHenry during the American Civil War, 1861-1865. Political prisoners included George W. Brown, the Mayor of Baltimore, George Kane, Marshal of Police, Frank Key Howard, the grandson of Francis Scott Key, members of the Maryland legislature, and numerous newspaper editors. Of particular interest are the 7,000 prisoners who sent here during the Gettysburg Campaign of 1863 and four women who were known to have been Confederate agents and spies.

Most prisoners were held at Fort McHenry briefly before being transferred to other Federal military prisons. Political prisoners were generally sent to Fort Warren (MA) or Fort Lafayette (NY). Prisoners of the war were generally sent to Point Lookout (MD), Fort Delaware (DE), Fort Warren (MA), Camp Douglas (IL), or Johnson’s Island (OH).

Two Confederate prisoners were executed at Fort McHenry. The executions of several other prisoners were stayed by President Lincoln.

PLEASE NOTE: The Fort McHenry Research Databases are provided for educational and research purposes. As with any transcription, errors are possible. Researchers are strongly urged to double check information provided in these databases against the source materials cited.

Data Status:

• 4/18/2008: Register of Prisoners No. 1 1861-1862 -- Completed for political prisoners and prisoners of war.