Possible remnant of Camp Lawton unearthed in dig
By Deborah Bennett

Above, archeologists excavate a site at Magnolia Springs State Park with hopes of discovering the boundaries of the stockade wall of Camp Lawton Confederate prison. From left, are Pam Johnson, Sara Gale, Terri Lotti and Jennifer Bendell. Left, this charred

It is small and fragile, but to archaeologists from the Georgia Department of Transportation (DOT) and Georgia Department of Natural Resources, it is the "find" of the day.

The soil-stained, charred wood fragment was unearthed at an excavation site at Magnolia Springs State Park Tuesday, Jan. 30, as the team searched for the stockade wall of the Camp Lawton Confederate prison. The park, located north of Millen on U.S. Highway 25, was the site of the largest prison camp constructed during the Civil War.

Archaeological teams have visited the park on two prior occasions, searching the area with ground-penetrating radar. Results of those studies were inconclusive. The find last week, however, generated excitement among the archeological team.

Further excavation will be performed at the site, and the discovered wood fragment, along with any additional finds, will be compared to historical accounts to determine if there is a match.

wood fragment was excavated at Magnolia Springs State Park last week by archeologists from the Georgia Department of Transportation and Georgia Department of Natural Resources. It is believed to be part of the remains of the stockade wall of the Camp Lawton Confederate prison that was located on the park grounds during the Civil War. (Staff photos by Deborah Bennett)

"It could possibly be a fragment of the stockade wall," said Debbie Wallsmith, interpretive supervisor for parks and history sites with the DOT.

Wallsmith said that it is hoped that the boundaries of the prison stockade wall might be discovered and outlined. Interpretive markers could then be erected at the four corners.

The study at the park is, in part, the result of a newly uncovered memoir by Robert K. Sneden who was a topographical engineer in the Union's army of the Potomac. He was captured by Confederate forces in 1863 and spent much the war in prison camps at Andersonville and Lawton.

Sneden worked at the prison hospital and claims to have kept the death record. He noted that 1,300 prisoners died and were placed in two burial trenches. One burial trench was discovered, and 685 bodies were removed from Camp Lawton to Beaufort National Cemetery in Beaufort, S.C. A second burial trench has not been discovered.

The project has captured the attention of Georgia Public Television which had a crew on hand last week to film a segment for the station's "Georgia Outdoors" program.