Texas, Smith County, Tyler
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J.B. Leake was a Lieutenant Colonel in the 20th Iowa. Captured at the battle of Stirling Plantation near Morganza, Louisiana September 29, 1863, he arrived in the first large group of prisoners on October 23, 1863. Lt. Col. Leake, being the highest ranking officer at Camp Ford, recieved a cabin in a prime location — closest to the spring. The cabin, completed December 4, 1863, was built in the southwest corner of the stockade. The site of the original cabin is 50 yards to the southeast. Sketches from Leake's diary show the cabin below. His diary and sketches were important in verifying the accuracy of other Camp Ford drawings.
The reconstruction was built from these drawings with materials from the park. The "stick and mud" chimney actually works!
The sketch at the right, drawn by Col. A.H.H. Duganne of the 176th New York, shows Leake's cabin with the same porch roof in its position in the stockade.
(War, US Civil) Includes location, directions, 7 photos, GPS coordinates, map.
J.B. Leake was a Lieutenant Colonel in the 20th Iowa. Captured at the battle of Stirling Plantation near Morganza, Louisiana September 29, 1863, he arrived in the first large group of prisoners on October 23, 1863. Lt. Col. Leake, being the highest ranking officer at Camp Ford, recieved a cabin in a prime location — closest to the spring. The cabin, completed December 4, 1863, was built in the southwest corner of the stockade. The site of the original cabin is 50 yards to the southeast. Sketches from Leake's diary show the cabin below. His diary and sketches were important in verifying the accuracy of other Camp Ford drawings.The reconstruction was built from these drawings with materials from the park. The "stick and mud" chimney actually works!
The sketch at the right, drawn by Col. A.H.H. Duganne of the 176th New York, shows Leake's cabin with the same porch roof in its position in the stockade.
(War, US Civil) Includes location, directions, 7 photos, GPS coordinates, map.
