Who was involved in Anderson Confederate Prison?
Anderson Confederate Prison, also known as Camp Sumter, was a Confederate prisoner-of-war camp located in Andersonville, Georgia, during the American Civil War.
Many people were involved in the operation of Anderson Confederate Prison, including:
1. Captain Henry Wirz: Wirz was the commandant of the prison camp from March 1864 until its closure in April 1865. He was later tried and executed for his alleged mistreatment of prisoners.
2. Confederate Army authorities: The overall management and implementation of the prison camp fell under the Confederate Army authorities.
3. Guards and sentinels: Confederate soldiers were assigned as guards and sentinels to oversee the prisoners held at Andersonville.
4. Medical staff: A small medical staff was present at the camp, consisting of Confederate Army doctors and surgeons, responsible for the healthcare of the prisoners. However, they were overwhelmed by the sheer number of inmates and the challenging conditions.
5. Confederate prisoners: While Andersonville initially served as a detention facility for Union prisoners of war, it also housed Confederate prisoners who had been arrested for various offenses.
6. Union prisoners of war: The majority of individuals held at Andersonville were Union soldiers captured during battle. These prisoners suffered greatly due to overcrowding, lack of shelter, food shortages, and inadequate medical care.
7. Confederate civilians: Local residents in Andersonville were aware of the prison camp's existence and some participated in providing goods and services to the prisoners, albeit at high prices.
It is worth noting that the conditions at Andersonville were horrific, with a mortality rate that remains one of the highest among all prison camps during the Civil War.
specific names
Specific names of individuals involved in Anderson Confederate Prison include:
1. Captain Henry Wirz: Wirz was the commandant of the prison camp and was later tried and executed for his alleged mistreatment of prisoners.
2. Richard B. Winder: Winder was a Confederate officer who served as the provost marshal of Andersonville, responsible for maintaining order and enforcing regulations within the prison camp.
3. Dr. James T. Trotter: Trotter was a Confederate surgeon who was assigned to provide medical care to the prisoners at Andersonville.
4. Dorence Atwater: Atwater was a Union soldier held at Andersonville who later compiled a detailed roster of the prisoners who died at the camp, known as the "Atwater List." He helped unveil the true conditions at Andersonville after the war.
5. Clara Barton: Barton, a prominent nurse and founder of the American Red Cross, visited Andersonville after the war and provided aid and assistance to former prisoners.
6. Thomas P. Turner: Turner, a former prisoner at Andersonville, wrote a memoir called "Camp-Fire Musings: Life and Good Times in Andersonville, Ga.," detailing his experiences in the prison camp.
These are just a few specific names associated with Anderson Confederate Prison; there were many other individuals involved, both Confederate and Union, as well as countless prisoners whose names have been lost to history.