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Set Apart the Barracks: From Rendezvous Point to Prison Camp
\When prisoner exchanges with the South stopped in 1863, Northern prison camps like Point Lookout Prison in Maryland became very overcrowded. On May 19, 1864, Camp Rathbun (Camp No. 3), located on West Water Street in Elmira, was ordered to be changed from a training camp to a prisoner-of-war camp to take in the extra prisoners. By that time, two of the training camps had already closed and the remaining two were mostly empty. Over the course of the next two months, a 12 foot tall stockade fence, additional barracks and a hospital were built to accommodate the arrival of Confederate prisoners.
 Plan for Prison Camp, 1864Foster’s Pond made up the southern border of Camp Rathbun. It provided the soldiers with water for drinking and bathing but later became a major source of disease in the prison camp. |  Lt. Col. Seth EastmanAs post commander, Lt. Col. Seth Eastman was given the task of overseeing the conversion of Camp Rathbun. |
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 In addition to several new barracks, tents were also set up to house the incoming prisoners. |  The new stockade fence around the camp included a sentry walk for the prison guards. |
 Arnot BarracksThe soldiers still housed at Camp Rathbun when it was converted to a prison camp were relocated to the barracks at Camp Arnot. |  Chair made by prisoners for use in the offices of the prison camp |
 Ironstone mug used in the officer's quarters of the Elmira prison camp |
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