Andersonville Confederate Prison Camp, Georgia

"Andersonville" as it known today was called "Camp Sumter" when it was built in 1864. The Andersonville double stockade was built from 20 foot pine logs and was 15 feet high and covered 26 ½ acres of land. Ten feet inside the stockade was the "deadline ". The deadline was marked by slat-topped poles. The Union prisoners were forced to survive in shelters they erected using tree limbs, logs, bushes, and other materials including their own clothes and overcoats. Few were lucky enough to have a canvas tent. Many were exposed to the elements twenty-four hours each day, including 30-50 inches of rain each year. Having no sewage, the creek, the only source of drinking water and bathing water, soon became contaminated with human waste. Soon the soldiers were dying of scurry, diarrhea, dysentery and other diseases. Nearly 13,000 of the 45,613 prisoners who passed through Andersonville, died as a result of illness and disease.

Andersonville Cemetery

Entrance to Andersonville National Cemetery

Prisoner Housing

My Daughters of Union Veterans group "Major Belle Reynolds Tennessee Tent No. 4 (Detached) participated in the Andersonville Historic Parade in Sept. 2004.  We also laid a wreath at the Tennessee Monument inside the Andersonville Stockade.  The ceremony included a biography of Isaac Brokaw Wallace which was read by me.