Andersonville prison

The Andersonville prison, officially known as Camp Sumter, was the largest Confederate military prison during the American Civil War. The site of the prison is now Andersonville National Historic Site in Andersonville, Georgia. Most of the site actually lies in extreme southwestern Macon County, adjacent to the east side of Andersonville. It includes the site of the Civil War prison, the Andersonville National Cemetery, and the National Prisoner ... more

The Andersonville prison, officially known as Camp Sumter, was the largest Confederate military prison during the American Civil War. The site of the prison is now Andersonville National Historic Site in Andersonville, Georgia. Most of the site actually lies in extreme southwestern Macon County, adjacent to the east side of Andersonville. It includes the site of the Civil War prison, the Andersonville National Cemetery, and the National Prisoner of War Museum. In all, 12,913 of the approximately 45,000 Union prisoners died there because of starvation, malnutrition, diarrhea, and disease. The prison, which opened in February 1864, originally covered about 16.5 acres (67,000 m) of land enclosed by a 15-foot (4.6 m) high stockade. In June, 1864 it was enlarged to 26.5 acres (107,000 m). The stockade was in the shape of a parallelogram 1,620 feet (490 m) by 779 feet (237 m). Guard towers, called pigeon roosts, were established at 30-yard (27 m) intervals. There were two entrances on the... less