THE WARS MOST TRAGIC STORY: PRISONER OF WAR CAMPS

1
THE WARS MOST TRAGIC STORY PRISONER OF WAR
CAMPS
2
By the end of the Civil War, 26,436 Southerners
and 22,576 Northerners died in prisoner-of-war
camps.
3
CONDITIONS WERE TERRIBLE

• NO BARRACKS
• INADEQUATE MEDICAL CARE
• BRUTAL TREATMENT
• WATER SUPPLY POOR

• MEN CROWDED INTO STOCKADES
• INSUFFICIENT FOOD
• PRIMITIVE TOLIET FACILITIES
• DESTITUTE OF CLOTHING

4
- ALL PRISONS WERE GRIM DEATH TRAPS AT THE
LIBBY PRISON IN RICHMOND, SIX ROOMS HELD 13,000
UNION OFFICERS.
5
AT BELLE ISLE, 90 OF THE SURVIVORS WEIGHED LESS
THAN 100 POUNDS
6
ANDERSONVILLE PRISON

• OPENED IN FEBRUARY 1864
• MARSHY REGION OF GEORGIA
• 26 ACRES
• WATER CAME FROM STAGNANT POOLS
• NO MEDICINE
• LICE
• FROSTBITE
• GANGRENE

7
ANDERSONVILLE BECAME FAMOUS FOR ITS LACK OF FOOD,
RAMPANT DISEASE, AND BRUTAL TREATMENT
8
ANDERSONVILLE BECAME A SYMBOL FOR SOUTHERN
INHUMANITY
9
A DAILY RATION CONSISTED OF 1 TEASPOON SALT, 3
TABLESPOONS BEANS, AND ONE-HALF PINT UNSIFTED
CORNMEAL
10

• HE WAS RELEASED
• FROM
• ANDERSONVILLE
• IN THIS
• CONDITION

11
13,000 DIED AT ANDERSONVILLE. ON ONE DAY THERE
WAS A DEATH EVERY 11 MINUTES. THEY WERE BURIED
SHOULDER TO SHOULDER IN TRENCHES NEAR THE PRISON.
12
AFTER THE WAR, HENRY WIRZ, THE COMMANDER OF
ANDERSONVILLE PRISON, WAS TRIED AS A WAR CRIMINAL.
13
HENRY WIRZ WAS FOUND GUILTY OF DELEBERATELY
RUINING THE HEALTH AND DESTROYING THE LIVES OF
HIS PRISONERS.
14
WIRZ WAS HANGED BEFORE A LARGE CROWD IN
WASHINGTON D.C. ON NOVEMBER 10, 1865.