Question

How do we know about the conditions at Andersonville? What primary sources/artifacts have historians used to learn about life at Andersonville? Please try to keep it short

Answer 1

Historians have relied on various primary sources and artifacts to gain knowledge about the conditions at Andersonville. They include memoirs and diaries written by former prisoners, letters exchanged between prisoners and their families, official military reports and correspondence, photographs taken during or after the camp's existence, and physical artifacts such as personal belongings of prisoners. These sources provide insights into the daily life, overcrowding, diseases, rampant malnutrition, and cruel treatment endured by the prisoners at Andersonville.