Andersonville, officially known as Camp Sumter, was a Confederate military prison during the American Civil War, operating from February 1864 to April 1865. The conditions for prisoners at Andersonville were dire and characterized by extreme overcrowding, rampant disease, and inadequate food and water supplies.
Crowding
The camp was initially designed to hold about 10,000 prisoners, but at its peak, it housed over 30,000 men. This extreme overcrowding led to incredibly cramped living conditions. Prisoners were often forced to sleep in the open, share minimal shelter, or crowd into makeshift tents, with little protection from the elements. The sheer number of prisoners exacerbated the already tough conditions, leading to intense competition for limited resources.
Disease
The overcrowded environment facilitated the rapid spread of disease. Poor sanitation, lack of medical care, and inadequate food made conditions ripe for outbreaks of illnesses such as dysentery, scurvy, and smallpox. Many prisoners suffered from malnutrition and weakness, which made them more susceptible to infections. The unsanitary living conditions, with minimal access to clean water and proper waste disposal, contributed to the high mortality rate. An estimated 13,000 prisoners died at Andersonville, most of whom succumbed to disease.
Food and Water Supply
Food supplies at Andersonville were critically insufficient. The prisoners were provided with rations that were often inadequate, consisting primarily of cornmeal and occasionally some meat or beans. This lack of nutrition led to severe malnutrition and starvation among the inmates. Additionally, the lack of variety in the diet weakened their overall health.
Water was another critical issue. The camp was located near a stream that quickly became polluted due to the large number of prisoners and the lack of proper sanitation. As the population swelled, so did the strain on the water supply, leading to disputes among inmates over access to safe water. Drinking contaminated water contributed to the spread of disease, compounding the misery of already suffering prisoners.
In summary, the conditions at Andersonville were horrendous, characterized by overcrowding, disease proliferation due to unsanitary conditions, and inadequate food and water supplies. These factors contributed to one of the darkest chapters of the Civil War, highlighting the severe hardships faced by Union soldiers in Confederate custody.