There were 16 ships in all, but this particular ship was nicknamed the “Hell Ship.”

Thousands of men and boys forced below decks with no light and ventilation, crowded

conditions and poor sanitation bred sickness; respiratory diseases, measles, scarlet

fever, chicken pox, and smallpox were soon introduced with dire results. Moldy bread,

half spoiled pickled beef and pork, provisions deemed unfit for regular issue led to

malnutrition. Bodies were often just thrown overboard instead of giving them at least a

decent burial. More American deaths occurred on these prison ships than from every

battle in the war combined.

Presenter: Susan E. Church is an historian, retired Museum Executive Director, and a

speaker on Westward Migration, Women’s Roles in the 19th Century, and American Civil War

topics. She has held many positions and is a nationally recognized Civil War Historian. In addition

to serving on several national battlefield preservation boards…educator at several Civil War sites

and has spoken at several national conferences.