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Andersonville
By James Emery Vigh of profbruno.com
In the early parts of the Civil War, it was common for commanders after a battle to exchange prisoners. This was done to avoid the costs and the trouble it took to house these prisoners in prison camps. A signed agreement was eventually put in place to arrange a systematic prisoner exchange and parole system. This arrangement was suspended by the U.S. in May 1863 (although some commanders on both sides kept up the practice). In early 1865,the agreement was reinstated. So during this suspension period, it became necessary for both sides to construct prisons to house their prisoners of war. In November 1863, a place in southern George was scouted out as a possible place for the Confederates to build a suitable prison. It was far from the theaters of war, had a fresh water source, and was close to a railroad. It was close to a village that had a population of less than 20 people -- Andersonville. The prison was built and was officially opened in late February 1864. It was given the name of Camp Sumter. The compound originally encompassed around 16.5 acres and was thought to be able to support around 10,000 prisoners, but by early June the population shot up to around 20,000. An extension to the prison was built by the prisoners making the total area around 26.5 acres. But it was not enough. The overcrowding continued. To make matters worse, the fresh water supply that existed in the form of a creek that ran through the compound fouled. It had to be used as both a sink, and as a supply of drinking water. Disease soon broke out. Food supplies were often meager. Even when they were in plentiful supply, they were often of poor quality. The prisoners became malnourished. During the war, 45,000 prisoners were received at Andersonville. 12,913 died of either disease or starvation. After the war, the camp commandant Henry Wirtz was court-martialed on charges of conspiracy and murder. The Union general heading the tribunal was General Lew Wallace (the man who would later write the book "Ben-Hur"). Unfortunately for Wirtz, Abraham Lincoln had just been assassinated. People in the North were screaming for blood. During his trial, Wirtz protested that he had done all that he could to alleviate the sufferings of his charges and that he was a victim of circumstances. But the testimonies of survivors and photos taken at the camp after the war sealed his fate. Wirtz, although sickly, was convicted of murder and hanged on November 16th, 1865. He was the only Confederate official who was tried and convicted of war crimes after the close of the American Civil War. There is still controversy as to whether or not it was deserved.
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Location of Andersonville
Depiction of the prison
Civil War photo of inside
A Union soldier survivor
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Interesting piece of history, Jim.
It didn't take long from crime to hanging in those days. Maybe we ought to consider this now.
Thanks for sharing, great read.
Frederick
CONTRIBUTOR'S REPLY
Verrrrrry interesting comment...
It's been many years ago that I read about Andersonville, and visited the site as well. I think I do recall that supplies were offered to the prison by local farmers, but they were turned away. Not sure if that's accurate. Thanks for the review.
CONTRIBUTOR'S REPLY
- not sure either. I didn't come across that specifically during my research - only that much of the food was of poor quality.
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