Prison Camps During The American Civil War

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The American Civil War was known as the “war between the states.” The war was caused by differing opinions about slavery, as well as the North living in big cities and the South living in isolated farms, which helped breed resentment between the regions. This animosity led to the bloodiest war in American history. Prison camps during this time were a great example to show just how cruel this war actually was. Between 45,000 and 50,000 prisoners died in the prisons from wounds, infectious diseases, and contaminated food and water. The Prisoners during the war faced harsher conditions than soldiers fighting on the front lines due to cramped spaces, less abundant supplies, and appalling treatment from superiors.
Prison environment proved to be …show more content…

Kiersten Silva Gruesz writes, “...the commander of Andersonville prison, was tried and sentenced to death by a military commission that blamed him deliberately causing the sufferings there”. Commanders in charge of prisoners were put to death for running a military prison. This goes to show how bad treatment was for the prisoners, considering they were put to death for the way they acted around prisoners. Prisoners had been tortured being whipped, “tying on the spare wheel” which was when a prisoner’s arms and legs were stretched until there were three or four spokes between his hands, and many more horrifying treatments. Middle Tennessee State University also adds, “[S]oldiers’ other duties included taking care of livestock, serving on picket (guard) duty, and gathering and cutting wood”. Soldiers did have side duties other than fighting in the war, but were not treated poorly to do so. Jobs were monotonous and boring; therefore, safe for soldiers. In fact, they were put on guard duty to watch prisoners as a job as well as searching for extra supplies. Prisoners for sure had worse treatment from their superiors than soldiers did with their commanders due to the fact that soldiers could do what they wanted as long as they did their

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