Fort Delaware is located on Pea Patch Island, just off of Delaware City, Delaware in the Delaware River. Its structure is unique for its time and when it was built, it was considered to be a modern marvel. Therefore, even though it was originally built to be a purely protective fort, it was primarily used as a prison for Confederate prisoners of war and Union deserters.

After the battle of Gettysburg, the fort housed as many as 13,000 confederate prisoners at one time. Despite the difficulties, there were escape attempts. Estimates range from as few as 275 to as many as 1000 men leaped into the Delaware trying to outwit both the Union soldiers and the elements to get off of Pea Patch Island. The majority were not successful, and either perished or were recaptured.

Stories of horrible conditions and disease have run amok in the fort’s oral history. But the facts relate a much different story. With a less than 7% death rate among the prisoners, Fort Delaware was considered to be safer odds than the battlefield. Disease, while it was present, was not rampant. Its effects did not surpass any other facilities of that time. Still, it cannot be denied that whether by disease, attempted escape, or injury sustained in the field, many men left their lives on Pea Patch Island.

Today, the Fort is part of the Delaware State Parks system, and as you know (if you’ve read anything else I’ve written regarding the fort), much of the living history revolves around prison life, but visitors can also learn about blacksmithing, visit the kitchen and the infirmary, see cannons fire, hear stories from freed slaves, and watch field musicians training for battle. However, one of the most popular programs is the Ghost Tour, a lantern lit tour of the prison narrated by interpreters who point out the number of confederate soldiers who spent their last days within those walls. Staff members and visitors have reported images and sounds of a mysterious nature throughout the Fort’s history, and rumors of a chain dragging ghost are always heard in the halls. Tourists on ghost tours have claimed to see both Confederate and Union soldiers peering at them from the shadows, and some even claim to have taken pictures of translucent figures floating through the barracks.

You can see for yourself on weekends and holidays from late April through September and Wednesdays through Sundays from mid June until Labor Day. The park is closed Mondays and Tuesdays with the exception of holidays on those weekdays. Visit any state park on the web at www.destateparks.com.