Andersonville Prison Camp

On February 24, 1864 in Americus, Georgia the Andersonville Prison was opened. The construction of the prison began in December of 1863. Six-hundred prisoners from Richmond, Virginia arrived on February 24, 1864. the prisoners were originally only to be held until they could be exchanged for other prisoners. The camp became over populated very quickly and disease and death spread through out the prison. Andersonville got overcrowded very quickly and they kept bring prisoners at Andersonville 12,912 died during the fourteen months of operation. Prisoners died at a rate of 100 people per day.

The Confederate Government was unable to provide housing, food, shelter, clothing, and medical care for all the prisoners. the prison was only made to hold about 10,000 prisoners but it got very crowded and ended up with as many as 45,613 prisoners.

After the prison site was selected, Captain Richard B. Winder was sent to Andersonville to construct a prison. Arriving in late December of 1863, Captain Winder designed the prison that encircle roughly 16.5 acres which he felt was large enough to hold 10,000 prisoners. The prison was to be rectangular in shape with a small creek flowing roughly through the center of the compound. The prison was given the name Camp Sumter. It was intended as a place where prisoners could be watched by a few amount of soldiers at a time.

Over 45,000 Union soldiers went to Andersonville during the 14 months that it was in existence. Of these, 12,912 died from disease, overcrowding, or exposure. They were buried shoulder to shoulder in trenches near the prison.

Here are some of the sites that I used to gather my information:

www.nps.gov/ande/

www.cr.nps.gov/seac/andecon.htm

www.pointsouth.com/csanet/Andersonvill.htm

Conditions at Andersonville

Andersonville Soldiers

National Historic Site

This site was created by Aubrey.
Created on May 14, 1999.
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