Andersonville Prison

Camp Sumter, more commonly known as Andersonville Prison, was located in Andersonville, Georgia. It was an ideal location for a prison due to it's closeness to the railroad, availability of freshwater, and sparce population. The actual prison originally covered 16 ½ acres of land, but was later enlarged by labor of the prisoners to 26 ½. The prison was surrounded by a fifteen foot high stockade made of pine logs cut into squares and "matched so well as to offer no glimpse of the outside". About nineteen feet. away from the wall was a deadline. If any of the prisoners were to cross this mark, the soldiers stationed at regular intervals were instructed to shoot them immediately. Around the outside of the prison were eight small forts, each one highly equipped with artillery to quell disturbances within the prison or to defend against Union attacks.

A stream ran through Camp Sumter, supplying water to most of the prison. They called it, "Stockade Branch", or more ill-fitting, "Sweet Water Branch". This stream was used by the prisoners as a sewer, as well as for bathing and drinking water.

The first prisoners arrived in February of 1864. Every day after that approximately 400 more arrived, until by the end of June 26,000 men were confined in an area only meant to hold 10,000. August of 1864 had the highest number of inmates at a time- 32,000, about the population of present day Sumter County.

Since it was necessary for the Confederates to give their army most of their supplies, they were unable to adequately supply their prisons with essentials. No clothing was provided for them. The prisoners got little to eat, daily it was usual to get some rancid wheat and perhaps a few tablespoons of rice, beans, or peas. The water supply was polluted with waste and disease. Medical attention was barely existent. No shelter was given to the prisoners and they were forbidden to build their own. Some inmates were able to build flimsy tents or lean-tos, but most were subjected to the elements of the open air prison.