Andersonville Prison, operating from February 1864 to May 1865, was one of the most notorious Confederate prisoner-of-war camps during the American Civil War. Originally designed for 10,000 prisoners, it held over 32,000 at its peak, resulting in the deaths of nearly 13,000 Union soldiers due to overcrowding, disease, and malnutrition.

The notorious Andersonville Prison stands as one of the darkest chapters in American Civil War history. Operating from February 1864 to May 1865 in Andersonville, Georgia, this Confederate prisoner-of-war camp became synonymous with extreme suffering and inhumane conditions.

Originally designed to hold 10,000 Union soldiers, the prison's population swelled to more than 32,000 at its peak in August 1864. The overwhelming number of prisoners, combined with severe food shortages and inadequate medical care, led to catastrophic death rates. Nearly 13,000 Union soldiers perished within its walls during the prison's brief but brutal 14-month operation, making it one of the deadliest facilities of its kind in American history.

The Confederate Army established Camp Sumter Military Prison, commonly known as Andersonville Prison, in February 1864 near Andersonville, Georgia. The facility's construction began in response to the urgent need for additional prisoner-of-war camps in the Confederate States.

The Confederate authorities selected the Andersonville location for its remote position 60 miles from Macon Georgia. The 16.5-acre rectangular prison yard featured a 15-foot-high wooden stockade made from pine logs. A small stream called Sweetwater Branch flowed through the compound, serving as the primary water source for prisoners. Construction crews completed the initial stockade in just 30 days, incorporating:

• Double rows of pine logs buried 5 feet deep
• Guard towers positioned every 90 feet along the walls
• A 19-foot-high inner barrier called "deadline"
• Two main gates on the west side of the stockade
• A 3-foot-deep drainage ditch system

The first group of 500 Union prisoners arrived at Andersonville on February 24, 1864. By March 1864, the prison population reached:

Month (1864)	Prisoner Count
February	500
March	4,800
April	10,000
May	15,000

The rapid influx of prisoners quickly exceeded the facility's intended capacity of 10,000 inmates. Prison officials expanded the stockade in June 1864, adding 10 acres to accommodate the growing population. Despite this expansion, severe overcrowding persisted as new prisoners continued to arrive daily from various Union Army capture locations.

Daily life at Andersonville Prison represented extreme deprivation for Union soldiers, with insufficient shelter, food shortages, and harsh living conditions leading to widespread suffering. The prison's severe conditions created an environment where survival became a constant struggle.

The prison's original 16.5-acre compound provided only 35 square feet per prisoner at peak capacity. Inmates constructed makeshift shelters called "shebangs" using blankets, sticks, and scraps of wood due to lack of proper housing. The overcrowded conditions forced many prisoners to sleep directly on the ground, exposed to harsh weather elements including scorching Georgia heat and winter rain.

Living Space Statistics	Measurements
Original Prison Size	16.5 acres
Space per Prisoner	35 sq ft
Maximum Population	32,000 prisoners
Stockade Height	15 feet

Disease spread rapidly through the prison population due to contaminated water, inadequate sanitation, and malnutrition. The most common ailments included:

• Dysentery affected 50% of prisoners due to contaminated water from Sweetwater Creek
• Scurvy emerged from vitamin C deficiency in limited food rations
• Gangrene developed in untreated wounds affecting 3 in 10 injured prisoners
• Typhoid fever spread through unsanitary conditions

The death rate averaged 100 prisoners per day during peak months, with August 1864 recording the highest mortality at 2,993 deaths. Medical facilities consisted of one small hospital area staffed by fellow prisoners, with minimal supplies and primitive treatment options.

Mortality Statistics	Numbers
Total Deaths	12,920
Peak Monthly Deaths	2,993
Daily Death Rate	100
Hospital Capacity	500 beds

Captain Henry Wirz took command of Andersonville Prison in March 1864, overseeing the facility during its most devastating period. His tenure marked a period of strict discipline combined with severe resource limitations that contributed to the prison's notorious conditions.

Captain Wirz implemented rigid administrative procedures at Andersonville Prison to maintain control over the growing prisoner population. The daily operations included:

• Roll calls conducted twice daily to account for prisoners

• Division of prisoners into groups of 90, each led by a sergeant

• Assignment of work details for tasks like digging graves or maintaining the stockade

• Distribution of daily rations at specific times

• Enforcement of the "deadline" rule, authorizing guards to shoot prisoners who crossed the boundary

• Rations decreased to raw cornmeal (8 ounces) mixed with beans (4 ounces) per prisoner daily

• Medical supplies remained limited to basic items like bandages and vinegar

• Guards maintained strict punishment protocols:

• Placement in stocks for 24-hour periods

• Chain gang assignments for escape attempts

• Reduced rations for rule violations

• Prisoner requests for additional supplies or medical care faced frequent denial

• Reports of guards shooting prisoners for minor infractions increased during summer months

Prison Statistics Under Wirz	Data
Average Daily Death Rate	100 prisoners
Peak Monthly Deaths (August 1864)	2,993 prisoners
Daily Ration Allowance	12 ounces
Guard-to-Prisoner Ratio	1:160
Documented Escape Attempts	328

Andersonville Prison's last months of operation coincided with General Sherman's March through Georgia in late 1864 through early 1865, leading to significant changes in prison operations.

Sherman's advance toward Savannah prompted Confederate authorities to relocate 5,000 able-bodied prisoners to other facilities in September 1864. The remaining prisoners faced deteriorating conditions as supply lines became disrupted. Food rations dropped to just 3 ounces of cornmeal per day while medical supplies dwindled to critical levels. The prison population decreased from its peak of 32,000 to approximately 5,000 inmates by November 1864.

The Confederate Army initiated the final evacuation of Andersonville Prison in April 1865. Guards transferred remaining prisoners to camps in Florida Mississippi through a combination of rail transport railway cars cattle cars. The last 200 Union soldiers departed on May 4 1865 when Confederate forces surrendered the facility to Union troops. Post-evacuation records indicate 12,920 Union soldiers died during the prison's 14-month operation spanning February 1864 to May 1865.

Time Period	Number of Prisoners	Deaths
Sept 1864	32,000 to 5,000	1,500
Nov 1864	5,000	800
May 1865	200	Final total: 12,920

Andersonville Prison's impact extends far beyond its 14-month operational period, establishing significant legal precedents for war crimes prosecution and preserving a powerful memorial to POW suffering.

The aftermath of Andersonville led to one of the first major war crimes trials in U.S. history. Captain Henry Wirz faced a military tribunal in Washington D.C. from August to October 1865, charged with conspiracy and murder of Union prisoners. The prosecution presented testimony from 149 witnesses detailing prison conditions and specific acts of cruelty. On November 10, 1865, Wirz received a death sentence and was executed by hanging at the Old Capitol Prison, marking him as the only Confederate officer executed for war crimes.

Andersonville Prison grounds transformed into a National Historic Site in 1970, managed by the National Park Service. The 495-acre site features:

• The restored North Gate entrance
• Reconstructed sections of the stockade wall
• Providence Spring, discovered by prisoners in August 1864
• Andersonville National Cemetery containing 13,714 graves
• National Prisoner of War Museum opened in 1998

The site receives 130,000 annual visitors and serves as the only national memorial dedicated to all American prisoners of war. Archaeological surveys continue to uncover artifacts documenting prison life through:

Archaeological Findings	Quantity
Personal items	1,200+
Military artifacts	800+
Medical supplies	400+
Building materials	2,000+

Research programs at the site focus on documenting individual prisoner stories through recovered diaries, letters and official records maintained in the park's archival collection of 65,000+ items.

• Andersonville Prison operated for 14 months, from February 1864 to May 1865, in Georgia as a Confederate prisoner-of-war camp
• Initially designed for 10,000 prisoners, the population peaked at 32,000 in August 1864, leading to severe overcrowding and inhumane conditions
• Nearly 13,000 Union soldiers died at Andersonville due to disease, malnutrition, and inadequate medical care, with death rates reaching 100 prisoners per day
• Captain Henry Wirz commanded the prison from March 1864 until its closure, later becoming the only Confederate officer executed for war crimes
• The site is now a National Historic Site managed by the National Park Service, featuring a museum, restored structures, and the Andersonville National Cemetery

Andersonville Prison's short but devastating operational period from February 1864 to May 1865 stands as one of the darkest chapters in American military history. The facility's legacy serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of war and the importance of adhering to humanitarian principles in treating prisoners of war.

The site's transformation into a National Historic Site and National Prisoner of War Museum ensures that future generations will remember the sacrifices of those who suffered within its walls. These preserved grounds continue to educate visitors about the harsh realities of wartime imprisonment while honoring the memory of the thousands who lost their lives at Andersonville.