Prison Conditions (Andersonville Prison)

Andersonville, or Camp Sumter as it was officially known, held more prisoners than any other confederate military prisons. More than 45,000 soldiers were confined there during the 14 months it existed. Out of the 45,000, more than 13,000 died from disease, poor sanitation, malnutrition, overcrowding, or exposure to the elements. The prison pen was surrounded by 15 to 17 foot pine logs. About 19 feet from the wall was the “deadline” which prisoners

were forbidden to cross. If the

deadline was ever crossed guards

had orders to shoot any prisoner

who attempted to cross. A part of

Sweet water Creek flowed through

the prison yard and that was the

only source of water for most of the

prison. In only five months 26,000

people were pinned in an area made

for 10,000.