On October 3, 1861, the Civil War was just over six
months old. The order went out from Washington to locate a Federal prison on one of
the islands in Lake Erie. The job of finding a suitable island was given to Lieutenant Colonel William Hoffman,
Commissary-General of Prisoners.
Colonel Hoffman came to Sandusky, Ohio in mid October, 1861 to
find the best location for the prison camp. After visiting many of the islands of
Lake Erie , the Colonel was unable to settle on any of the islands as a suitable site.
Colonel Hoffman reported to Secretary of War Simon Cameron that there was one island in
Sandusky Bay that may prove ideal.
The island was almost three miles from the city of Sandusky to the
South, and a mile from the Northern shore in Ottawa County. It consisted of 300
acres and would cost $500.00 a year to lease. The government would control the access to
the island, so no one could land without permission.
On November 15, 1861 a lease for the Island was signed
by the Army and construction began at once.
When the prison at Johnson's Island was in full operation it housed
2,633 men, and consisted of an area of 15 acres on the south side of the island. There were 13 barracks to house
the prisoners, each, two stories high. There was also a prison hospital, kitchens, and
mess rooms.
The camp at Johnson's Island was in operation for almost four years. In
that time more than 10,000 officers, and 1,000 enlisted men were imprisoned there.
Today only the cemetery remains, where more
than 200 are buried. 
