Andersonville Prison

Andersonville Prison, Georgia, August 1864

The Andersonville National Historic Site, located near Andersonville, Georgia, preserves the former Camp Sumter (also known as Andersonville Prison), a Confederate prisoner-of-war camp during the final twelve months of the American Civil War. Most of the site lies in southwestern Macon County, adjacent to the east side of the town of Andersonville. The prison was made in February of 1864 and served to April of 1865.

The site was commanded by Captain Henry Wirz, who was tried and executed after the war for war crimes. It was overcrowded to four times its capacity, with an inadequate water supply, inadequate food rations, and unsanitary conditions. Of the approximately 45,000 Union prisoners held at Camp Sumter during the war, nearly 13,000 died. The chief causes of death were scurvy, diarrhea, and dysentery. Wikipedia

Learn more about Andersonville Prison through historical newspapers from our archives. Explore newspaper articles, headlines, images, and other primary sources below.

Articles and Clippings about Andersonville Prison

Description of the conditions at Andersonville Prison, from an account by exchanged Union prisoners 25 Aug 1864, Thu Cleveland Daily Leader (Cleveland, Ohio) Newspapers.comEscaped prisoner is arrested by local woman and returned to Camp Sumter (Andersonville Prison) 01 Sep 1864, Thu The Charleston Daily Courier (Charleston, South Carolina) Newspapers.comPaper describes conditions at Andersonville & reports prisoners were transferred as Sherman neared 12 Nov 1864, Sat The Kingston Whig-Standard (Kingston, Ontario, Canada) Newspapers.comAccount of conditions at Andersonville Prison Fri, Aug 18, 1865 – Page 1 · The St Johnsbury Caledonian (St. Johnsbury, Vermont) · Newspapers.comExcerpt from a prisoner's account about the Andersonville Raiders 23 Aug 1865, Wed Chicago Tribune (Chicago, Illinois) Newspapers.comUnion dead at Andersonville are identified and buried after the war; Clara Barton assists Sat, Aug 26, 1865 – Page 1 · The Pantagraph (Bloomington, Illinois) · Newspapers.comPaper says Alexander H. Stevens appealed to Jefferson Davis to be allowed to examine Andersonville 11 Sep 1865, Mon The Wheeling Daily Intelligencer (Wheeling, West Virginia) Newspapers.comExcerpt from trial of Henry Wirz, commander at Andersonville Prison Sat, Sep 23, 1865 – Page 2 · The Burlington Free Press (Burlington, Vermont) · Newspapers.comAssociation to assist Andersonville Prison survivors, widows, and orphans Thu, Sep 28, 1865 – Page 2 · The Olathe Mirror (Olathe, Kansas) · Newspapers.comThe commander of Andersonville Prison, Captain Wirz, hung Fri, Nov 17, 1865 – 2 · The Bedford Inquirer (Bedford, Pennsylvania) · Newspapers.comNew York Times article on Andersonville Prison (with map) Sun, Nov 26, 1865 – Page 1 · The New York Times (New York, New York) · Newspapers.comReader questions death rates for Confederate prisoners of war in Union prisons Sat, Jun 1, 1867 – 2 · Clarion-Ledger (Jackson, Mississippi) · Newspapers.comAccount of the execution of the leaders of the Andersonville Raiders by their fellow inmates 14 Dec 1882, Thu The National Tribune (Washington, District of Columbia) Newspapers.comA firsthand account of Andersonville Prison Thu, Nov 19, 1885 – 2 · Wayne County Herald (Honesdale, Pennsylvania) · Newspapers.comConfederate perspective on Andersonville Prison conditions and treatment of prisoners Thu, Jan 9, 1890 – 11 · The Weekly Advertiser (Montgomery, Alabama) · Newspapers.comMeeting held for association of former Andersonville prisoners, including Peter "Big Pete" Aubrey 08 Apr 1892, Fri The Boston Globe (Boston, Massachusetts) Newspapers.comSummary of parts of "Andersonville: A Story of Rebel Military Prisons," a book by John McElroy 25 Nov 1897, Thu The National Tribune (Washington, District of Columbia) Newspapers.comTwo firsthand accounts of Andersonville Prison Fri, Oct 23, 1903 – 6 · Wilkes-Barre Semi-Weekly Record (Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania) · Newspapers.comAccount of prisoners being released from Andersonville Prison Thu, Sep 22, 1904 – 2 · The National Tribune (Washington, District of Columbia) · Newspapers.comHistoric pistol of Andersonville Prison camp leader Captain Wirz now in archives Sun, Jul 9, 1905 – Page 20 · St. Louis Post-Dispatch (St. Louis, Missouri) · Newspapers.comAndersonville Prison site and cemetery turned into park Tue, Oct 18, 1910 – 3 · Wilkes-Barre Semi-Weekly Record (Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania) · Newspapers.comBiography of Dorence Atwater, keeper of the death rolls at Andersonville Prison Sun, Apr 27, 1924 – 53 · Hartford Courant (Hartford, Connecticut) · Newspapers.com