What emotions does the site evoke? There's a definite "hallowed ground" feel to battlefields like Antietam and Gettysburg, is Johnson's Island similar?

David Bush: Each person experiences Johnson's Island in their own way. Each day as we discover different things, the reactions of those that are there varies. However, in almost every case, there is always that sense that we are bringing back to life the experiences of those that were held prisoner there, as well as those that were the guard. When you handle an item, such as a ring, that was last worn by a Confederate Officer during the Civil War, it is an incredible feeling of connection. It connects us with the lives of people that were so far from home, so desperate to find out about their family, so discouraged about the prospect of ever getting off that northern island.

We are lucky that the site area of the prison compound is screened from the rest of the island by a forested bank. Because of this, we don't seen the modern homes as a constant reminder of our twenty-first century existence. We can for a while transport ourselves back in time and truly explore the activities and choices of POWs from the Civil War.

Locket from Block 8 - Fall, 1864 (Courtesy David Bush)

I will never forget when one of the Earthwatch volunteers discovered a locket. As we opened it up, the copper of the locket had preserved braided hair, neatly coiled and tied with a ribbon. It brought tears to the volunteer's eyes, as she thought of the pain that prisoner suffered.