The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-07-03
ROCK ISLAND AND ITS SURROUND.
INGS

THE REBEL PRISON.

About fourteen thousand Confederate pris-
oners were placed here during the war by
our military authorities of this number
l, $3.50 died, and were buried in neat GENE
terry on the Island, one and a half acres in ex-
tent, and surrounded by a neat fence. Their
"quarters" or barracks covered forty acres.
and was enclosed by g dead line four feet
deep, and six feet wsle. At the depth of
four feet the solid rock WAS reached that
formed the superstructure of the island,
which made it impossible for the prisoners
to excavate tmn els mader. this boundary line
and thus escape. They made many such
attempts, but their attempts were Invariably
foiled upon reaching the firm, fnty rock.
Their barracks formed parallelogram, of
twelve rows of buildings one way, and nine
the other making one hundred and eight
structures OF uniform size, each of which
| would accommodate one hundred and TWEEN
ty-fve persons. At one period, all these
| were full, and temporary buildings were
| erected outside of the dead line for large
number that had arrived. All these build
| ings have been demolished, and soon there
| will not be vestige left, except the cemete-
| nv. to mark the spot, the history of which
| has been so intimately interwoven with the
/ tragic scenes of the great conflict. They
were removed to make room for the i'm
| provements now being made toward the es
| Enlistment of the new arsenal of the north
west. ~ s-.~.--
~ GEN. T. ]. RopMAN,s PLANS.
The most important part of the history Of
! this Island dates from the time when Gen
| Rodman Of the United States army assumed
| its command, with instructions to design
and commence an extensive and complete
system for arsenal purposes" In pursuance
| of these instructions. he originated compre
hensive and admirable plans for its estab
| lishment; Immediately thereafter he went to
Washington, where they were approved by
| Congress without a dissenting voice. He
at once returned and entered upon the exc
cuton of them. Under his controlling su
perintendence there viii be no doubt that ev
erything win be done in the most thorough
manner. We were favored with full ex
animation of the very elaborate plan pre-
pared by him and seeing what has already
been accomplished, can furnish reliable in
! formation relative to =
THE FUTURE ARSENAL OF THE NORTHWEST
The improvements that are contemplated
will embrace the entire area of the island
including even railroad track and BRIDGES
1
in length, and 1000 ia breadth its superb
cial area being nearly 1000 acres. The
whole of this area has been thoroughly sur
veyed, and it is from photographed MAJ
of this survey that the exact plan of opera
tons. has been decided upon. This mar
shows in curved lines the precise altitude OF
each part of the island above low water mari
at every ascent and descent of three feet
Thus. in deciding the location of given
| building, the exact relation as to height its
site will bear to any other part of the island
is seen at a glance. We learn by this means
| that the water of the Mississippi, at the up
per end Of the island, is six feet FIVE inches
| higher than at the lower end.
| 1t is at the point where the Island il
widest, and about the center of its extreme
length. that it's proposed to erect the arse
| nal buildings proper. There is an elevated
| platform, ranging from thirty-three to forty
one feet above low-water mark, and Offering
| room for the erection of a mile of buildings
! This area embraces all the ground upor
which were erected the prisoners barracks
| officers quarters, de-, and is in the mos
| beautiful part of the Island. ii73A :,lo5&