Historians have gathered a wealth of information about the conditions at Andersonville Prison through a variety of primary sources and artifacts that provide insight into life within the prison. One of the most significant primary sources is the personal diaries and letters written by both prisoners and guards. These writings offer firsthand accounts of the daily experiences, hardships, and emotions of those living in the camp.
Additionally, official reports and government documents, such as medical records and reports from military officials, shed light on the operational aspects of the prison, including management practices, food rations, and mortality rates. Photographs taken during and after the Civil War, although limited, also serve as visual documentation of the conditions within Andersonville, helping to illustrate the dire state of the prisoners.
Former prisoners, such as those who survived to write memoirs after the war, provide valuable narratives that detail their personal experiences, the physical and psychological effects of incarceration, and the overall environment of the prison. These accounts, along with artifacts like uniforms, personal belongings, and remnants of the prison's physical structure, contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of life at Andersonville. Through the analysis of these materials, historians have been able to piece together a vivid and often harrowing image of the suffering endured by the prisoners in one of the most notorious military prisons of the Civil War.