Belle Isle
Information about Belle Isle in Richmond, VA during the Civil War.

Belle Isle was a small island at the west end of the City in the James River. It was used as an incarceratory for enlisted men - it had a few shacks and some Sibley tents. A hospital for prisoners and an iron factory also occupied the island.

The men were allowed to swim in the river and some escaped in this manner. Cannon and rifle pits effectively discouraged many attempts of this nature.

By 1863, almost 10,000 men were imprisoned here. The old Richmond & Petersburg Railroad bridge to the island was called by the prisoners "Bridge of Sighs".

Belle Isle Prison has long been a center of dispute. The South claimed a low death-rate; the North, a very high one.

Written Accounts

1837-08-23, Baltimore (Md.) Gazette and Daily Advertiser; incredibly detailed description of the newly-opened Tredegar Iron Works
1843-04-04, Southern Patriot (Charleston, S. C.); officers of the Navy are proving the Tredegar-made guns – one of the rounds skips off the top of Belle Isle and nearly kills a female worker there
1862-04-05, Richmond Dispatch; Old Dominion Iron and Nail Works needs nail keg hoops
1862-05-08, Richmond Dispatch; John Roberts, living on Belle Isle, looking for missing 7-year old daughter
1862-05-13, Richmond Dispatch; body found - little daughter of John Roberts, Belle Isle foundry
1862-05-13, Richmond Enquirer; daughter of a worker at the Belle Isle works drowns - body recovered near the Danville Bridge
1862-06-06, Richmond Dispatch; Capt. Norris Montgomery adv for 2 negroes
1862-07-07, Richmond Enquirer; Tredegar Iron works described by Yankee reporter during the Seven Days
1862-07-09, Richmond Dispatch; movement of captured Yankees to Belle Isle is being debated
1862-07-11, Richmond Enquirer; 5300 prisoners at Libby & Belle Isle

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