The Ghosts of Arsenal Island: The Confederate Soldier

One of the creepiest ghost stories connected to the Quad Cities takes place on Rock Island Arsenal, right in the middle of the Mississippi River between Davenport, Rock Island, and Moline.

The story centers on a reported ghost of a Confederate soldier who supposedly still wanders the island more than 160 years after the Civil War.

And the eerie part? The island really was home to a Civil War prison camp where nearly 2,000 Confederate prisoners died.

Here's where the history ends, and the ghost story begins.

The Story of the Confederate Soldier

During the Civil War, Rock Island became the site of a Union prison camp for captured Confederate soldiers. The prison opened in December 1863 and operated until July 1865. Over that time, it held more than 12,000 prisoners, and approximately 1,964 died, many from diseases such as smallpox and pneumonia.

Today, the island is home to Rock Island Arsenal, an active U.S. Army installation. But the prison's history has helped fuel a chilling local legend: some people believe the spirits of Confederate prisoners still linger there.

According to the U.S. Army's own historical publication about reported hauntings, people have claimed to see a Confederate soldier near the former prison grounds, close to the entrance of Quarters One, the historic residence of the arsenal's commanding officer.

The Ghost Soldier With the Pipe.

This is the detail that makes the story especially memorable.

According to the history of Quarters One, multiple people have reported seeing a Confederate prisoner leaning against the main posts at the entrance to the driveway. He's reportedly smoking a pipe, with the sound of drums accompanying the sighting.

The Cemetery Remains

The Rock Island Confederate Cemetery remains on the island today. It is the final resting place of Confederate prisoners who died while being held at the camp. The cemetery is one of the last physical reminders of the prison's existence.

The prison buildings themselves were eventually demolished. The graves remain.
That connection between the island's military past, its surviving cemetery, and reports of ghostly soldiers is what makes this legend so enduring.

Ghost In Our Iowa Basement?

As a radio station, we have a lot of people here who have seen some scary stuff. Do you see any ghosts in these photos? I can't, but I also don't know what to look for.

This Isn't The First Face Caught On Camera Here!

In September of 2020 the band "Pit Lord" came to the building to shoot a music video. They shot it in the basement and for a split second in the recording, you can make out a face of what looks to be a woman. You can see that video here.

With a history of ghosts, it's safe to say the basement of our building is CREEPY!