GDG- Belle Isle

[Smith David]

Belle Isle was a Confederate prison for enlisted men, the way that Libby
Prison was a prison for officers (with exceptions).  It is located in/on
the James River - being essentially swamp/bottom land, it was not a very
healthy environment, and combined with cold weather and inadequate
shelter, malaria, and other endemic camp diseases, it was the last stop
for a lot of Union soldiers.

Ironically, as you can tell, the name meant "good" or "beautiful" Isle.
I've actually been there in Richmond - its across the river from the
restored Tredegar Iron works - but it is pretty much nondescript.  Not
much "there" there.

David G. Smith 

-----Original Message-----