A Dreaded Provost Prison

"It was a pen of filth and vermin." - William Howell Reed, a Sanitary Commission agent

The Bull Ring was the Union provost Marshal's prison at City Point used for the confinement of Union soldiers convicted or charged with desertion, murder, rape, disobedience, theft, drunkenness and other crimes. The pen was composed of three large one-story barracks which were surrounded by high wooden fences strictly guarded by sentries day and night. At the entrance was a horizontal bar of wood, supported by two upright posts from which were suspended short ropes used for tying up prisoners by the hands or thumbs as punishment.

According to William Howell Reed, a Sanitary Commission agent, the condition of the inmates was horrible. "It was a pen of filth and vermin." Reed said he "could readily believe the officer, who had been a prisoner at Richmond, when he said that he would rather be confined in the Libby prison for six months than in the Bull-Ring for one."

During the last week of the war thousands of Confederate prisoners were sent to City Point to await transportation to northern internment camps. At this time the Bull Ring was used to confine Confederate prisoners. There were so many Confederates in the Bull Ring that the overflow were allowed to sleep outside the enclosure.

Sorry, but we don't have a picture of this historical marker yet. If you have a picture, please share it with us. It's simple to do. 1) Become a member. 2) Adopt this historical marker listing. 3) Upload the picture.

Show me all markers in:  Hopewell, VA  |  23860  |  Virginia  |  United States of America

St. John's Episcopal Church
Dr. Peter Eppes House
Porter House
City Point, Virginia
City Point
Appomattox Manor
City Point
General Grant's Headquarters
The Peacemaker
Women At City Point

• GPX
• KML
• LOC

Have you seen this marker? If so, check in and tell us about it.