What was the purpose of Andersonville and what was it like for those staying there?

It was built in early 1864 after Confederate officials decided to move the large number of Federal prisoners in and around Richmond to a place of greater security and more abundant food. During the 14 months it existed, more than 45,000 Union soldiers were confined here.

What were conditions like in Civil War POW camps?

Others suffered from harsh living conditions, severely cramped living quarters, outbreaks of disease, and sadistic treatment from guards and commandants. When prisoner exchanges were suspended in 1864, prison camps grew larger and more numerous. Overcrowding brutalized camp conditions in many ways.

Were any confederates convicted of war crimes?

Perhaps most prominent of these other Confederates to be executed was Champ Ferguson, who was convicted in the fall of 1865 for the execution of at least 53 captured Union soldiers, although Ferguson claimed the total was higher. There were further military tribunals against Confederates planned in the spring of 1866.

What were the conditions like at Andersonville?

The prisoners, nearly naked, suffered from swarms of insects, filth, and disease, much of which was generated by the contaminated water supply of the creek. Andersonville had the highest mortality rate of any Civil War prison. Nearly 13,000 of the 45,000 men who entered the stockade died there, chiefly of malnutrition.

Why was Vicksburg so important to the Confederacy?

A victory at the siege of Vicksburg, Mississippi, in 1863 gave the Union control of the Mississippi River in the American Civil War. By having control of the river, Union forces would split the Confederacy in two and control an important route to move men and supplies.

What happened to Confederate prisoners?

Over 30,000 Union and nearly 26,000 Confederate prisoners died in captivity. Just over 12\% of the captives in Northern prisons died, compared to 15.5\% for Southern prisons.

Was the Confederacy punished?

Thus while many cases of alleged disloyalty among civilians resulted in punishment, none ended with execution. Confederate soldiers of all ranks were generally paroled and faced no formal charges of treason.