The Gratiot Street Prison in St. Louis received its first Confederate prisoners. The prison was housed in what had been the medical school and museum of the grave-robbing Dr. Joseph Nash McDowell.

This post was contributed by Ross Malone. A historian and a retired school teacher, Ross has authored many books about Missouri’s history, weird facts, and folk tales. He has also written children’s historical fiction. Visit his website, and buy his books in the Missouri Life store.