1997 Excavation. Shown is a cross section of the south wall. The dark spot in the center is the fill where the logs were. This is a cross section of the trench of the original north wall.

Sketch of Col Duganne's cabin. Sketch of grave of Lt. John Kendall 176th NY and Thomas Moorehead, 26th Indiana. Kendall was the first prisoner to die at the Camp (September 1863), and Moorehead was shot by guard Frank Smith in November of 1863. The shooting precipitated the crisis that led to the erection of the first stockade.

Archaeology at Camp Ford

The site of Camp Ford reverted to agricultural use after the war. Evidence of the walls and structures were clearly visible in the 1890's, and even as late as the 1920's. During the Texas Centennial an effort was made to preserve the site. Nine acres were acquired by the Texas State Parks Board and the United Daughters of the Confederacy, but the proposed WPA project was not funded, and the plans for development failed. A roadside park was established, and the site was marked with the first Texas Historical Commission aluminum marker in 1962. Although there were a number of good prisoner accounts and drawings, the exact location of the stockade was lost. Several surface features existed that were believed to be associated with the camp, but only archeological work could redefine the perimeter.

In 1994, the Smith County Historical Society applied for and received a Federal ISTEA grant for acquisition and development of the site. Deeds for three tracts comprising the bulk of the site were obtained in 1996, and specifications for the preliminary archeological work were finalized. The Contract for the archeology was awarded to the Center for Environmental Archeology at Texas A&M University, under the direction of Dr. Alston Thoms. Work commenced in July of 1997.

The original stockade covered approximately three acres with 16 feet tall walls. It was enlarged in April of 1864 by cutting off all but six feet of the west and south walls, removing the east and north walls, cutting those logs in half, and using the halved logs to expand the stockade to the north and east. Over the month long survey, a number of features were uncovered including the west, south and east walls, the trench for the original north and east walls, and over sixteen structures. At the end of the survey, side scan radar was utilized and a number of additional features were identified. A second session was conducted in the spring of 1998, and more features were discovered.

The final Archeological Report from The Center for Ecological Archeology, Texas A&M University is now available. Entitled Uncovering Camp Ford, it may be purchased from the Smith County Historical Society. Read more about archaeology at Camp Ford here.

IMPORTANT – CAMP FORD IS PROTECTED BY BOTH STATE AND FEDERAL LAW AS AN ANTIQUITIES SITE. RELIC HUNTING AND UNAUTHORIZED DIGGING IS PROHIBITED, AND CAN RESULT IN CRIMINAL PROSECUTION!