20 min
23-Andersonville Prison Calvin Day French-43 Ohio Volunteer Infantry Civil War Diaries
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- History
The Confederate government began the construction of their Union prisoner of war camp in Andersonville, Georgia beginning November 1863 and started accepting prisoners in February 1864. The prison was designed to house 10,000 prisoners. During the operation of the prison 400 prisoners arrived daily resulting in nearly 45,000 Union soldiers being transported to Andersonville. Nearly 13,000 Union prisoners died at Andersonville from disease, exposure, and malnutrition. The dead were buried in mass graves dug by the prisoners outside the prison walls. There was an extreme lack of shelter, food, and water. By August 1864 32,000 prisoners remained within the 26-acre prison site.
The Union gained control of Atlanta during battles in September 1864 which resulted in 14,000 Confederate and 6,000 union casualties. Fewer Union soldiers were being transferred to Andersonville due to the Confederates concern that the Union would attempt to continue south of and liberate the prison camp. Attempts to liberate the prison by the Union had failed. Prisoner exchange was not agreed to by General Grant nor President Lincoln. As a result of the Union capturing Atlanta and concern of further attempts to liberate Andersonville, on September 7, 1864, the Confederate government began transporting the well bodied prisoners out of Andersonville. The prisoners were told they were being transported by train for a prisoner exchange. Instead, they were being transported to other Confederate prisons located as far east as Savanah, Georgia.
The Confederate government began the construction of their Union prisoner of war camp in Andersonville, Georgia beginning November 1863 and started accepting prisoners in February 1864. The prison was designed to house 10,000 prisoners. During the operation of the prison 400 prisoners arrived daily resulting in nearly 45,000 Union soldiers being transported to Andersonville. Nearly 13,000 Union prisoners died at Andersonville from disease, exposure, and malnutrition. The dead were buried in mass graves dug by the prisoners outside the prison walls. There was an extreme lack of shelter, food, and water. By August 1864 32,000 prisoners remained within the 26-acre prison site.
The Union gained control of Atlanta during battles in September 1864 which resulted in 14,000 Confederate and 6,000 union casualties. Fewer Union soldiers were being transferred to Andersonville due to the Confederates concern that the Union would attempt to continue south of and liberate the prison camp. Attempts to liberate the prison by the Union had failed. Prisoner exchange was not agreed to by General Grant nor President Lincoln. As a result of the Union capturing Atlanta and concern of further attempts to liberate Andersonville, on September 7, 1864, the Confederate government began transporting the well bodied prisoners out of Andersonville. The prisoners were told they were being transported by train for a prisoner exchange. Instead, they were being transported to other Confederate prisons located as far east as Savanah, Georgia.
20 min