You're still digging at the site, what kind of questions are guiding your current excavations?

David Bush: I seem to use the proverbial "we" when I discuss questions about Johnson's Island. I guess I have been the one directing all the investigations, but I have been influenced by the thousands of people that have participated in the studies over the years. We have all learned so much from the site.

This year we are continuing to look at Block 4. This is our third year excavating in and around this block. I have been fortunate enough to have records sent to me from various prisoners that were housed in Block 4, which makes our investigations that much more interesting. For instance, Lieutenant Robert Smith of the 61th Tennessee was one of Block 4's occupants. He made a camera and took pictures of the prisoners at the prison, but did this out of Block 4. He was also an expert jeweler, and made beautiful brooches, rings, buttons, and necklaces. He noted in his diary that he made a set of cuff buttons for General Trimble. The work at Block 4 is to continue to gather data on the actual day to day activities of the prisoners. This year, we are specifically trying to locate the back of the block, as well as explore what specific activities were going on outside of the block between the back wall and the "dead line," beyond which prisoners could be shot.