Civil War Civil War Prison CampsPrison Camps

North & SouthNorth & South

Union CampsUnion Camps

Alton PrisonAlton Prison Camp ChaseCamp Chase Camp DouglasCamp Douglas Camp RandallCamp Randall ElmiraElmira Fort DelawareFort Delaware Fort JeffersonFort Jefferson Fort McHenryFort McHenry Old Capitol PrisonOld Capitol Prison Point LookoutPoint Lookout Rock IslandRock Island

Confederate CampsConfederate Camps

AndersonvilleAndersonville Belle IsleBelle Isle Cahaba PrisonCahaba Prison Camp FordCamp Ford Castle PinckneyCastle Pinckney Castle ThunderCastle Thunder Danville PrisonDanville Prison Libby PrisonLibby Prison Salisbury PrisonSalisbury Prison

AltonAlton Illinois (North)Illinois (North) Overcrowding fortressOvercrowding fortress During the 3 years of use during the During the 3 years of use during the

Civil War, almost 12,000 Confederate Civil War, almost 12,000 Confederate soldiers were incarcerated at Alton soldiers were incarcerated at Alton Prison.  Prison.  

Disease, scurvy, fever and general Disease, scurvy, fever and general malnutrition plagued the prisoners malnutrition plagued the prisoners but it was the dreaded but it was the dreaded smallpox smallpox which killed 6-10 prisoners per day which killed 6-10 prisoners per day during an outbreak in Alton Prison.  during an outbreak in Alton Prison. 

The exact death toll is not known but The exact death toll is not known but reports estimate 1500-2200 reports estimate 1500-2200

AndersonvilleAndersonville Georgia (South)Georgia (South) overcrowding, starvation, disease, scurvy, overcrowding, starvation, disease, scurvy,

and cruelty and cruelty Originally intended to hold 10,000 Originally intended to hold 10,000

men, Andersonville at one time held over 33,000 men men, Andersonville at one time held over 33,000 men Death rate at Andersonville was the highest of all Civil War Death rate at Andersonville was the highest of all Civil War

prisons.  prisons.  13,700 men died within thirteen months! 13,700 men died within thirteen months!

The superintendent of the prison was Captain Henry Wirz The superintendent of the prison was Captain Henry Wirz Captain Wirz was tried and hanged by a military court after the Captain Wirz was tried and hanged by a military court after the

war war

Andersonville

Captain Wirz’s Execution

Life & Death in PrisonLife & Death in Prison about 56,000 men perished in Civil War prisonsabout 56,000 men perished in Civil War prisons

greater than any battle during the wargreater than any battle during the war this was a result of ignorance of nutrition and this was a result of ignorance of nutrition and

proper sanitation on both sides of the conflict proper sanitation on both sides of the conflict shortages of food, shelter, and clothing shortages of food, shelter, and clothing More than 150 prisons were established during the More than 150 prisons were established during the

war war Prison diets consisted of pickled beef, salt pork, Prison diets consisted of pickled beef, salt pork,

corn meal, rice, or bean soup. The lack of fruits or corn meal, rice, or bean soup. The lack of fruits or vegetables often led to outbreaks of scurvy and vegetables often led to outbreaks of scurvy and other diseases… so people ate RATS!other diseases… so people ate RATS!