What Union strategy affected Andersonville? How?
The Union strategy that affected Andersonville was the decision to cease prisoner exchanges with the Confederacy. The exchange of prisoners had been a common practice during the early years of the war, but in 1863, the Union stopped the exchange due to concerns over the treatment of Union prisoners by the Confederates.
This strategy affected Andersonville in two significant ways. First, it led to overcrowding in the prison. With no possibility of exchanging prisoners, the number of Union soldiers held at Andersonville continued to increase, putting a strain on the already limited resources within the prison.
Second, the decision to stop prisoner exchanges affected the conditions within Andersonville. The Confederacy, faced with an increasing number of prisoners and limited resources, was unable to adequately provide for the basic needs of the prisoners, such as food, shelter, and medical care. This resulted in horrific conditions at Andersonville, with prisoners suffering from malnutrition, disease, and lack of sanitation.
Overall, the Union strategy to cease prisoner exchanges directly affected Andersonville by contributing to overcrowding and deteriorating conditions, making it one of the most infamous Confederate prisons during the Civil War.