What It Was Like to Be a Civil War Prisoner - Camp Sumter

Andersonville was a Confederate POW camp during the Civil War, notorious for its brutal conditions. Overcrowding, disease, and lack of resources led to the deaths of 13,000 Union soldiers. Prisoners faced harsh living conditions, inadequate food and water, and cruel punishments. Despite offers of freedom for allegiance to the Confederacy, Union soldiers remained loyal. The camp's legacy is marked by the trial and execution of its commander, Henry Wirz, and ongoing debates about responsibility and memory.

What was the primary purpose of Andersonville Prison Camp during the Civil War?

• To serve as a supply depot for the Confederate army

• To serve as a training ground for Confederate soldiers

• To house Union prisoners of war

• To act as a medical facility for injured soldiers

What was a common issue faced by Union prisoners regarding clothing at Andersonville?

• They were provided with new uniforms regularly

• They received winter clothing in the summer

• They often had to share clothes with Confederate soldiers

• Many were left with rags or no clothing at all

What was the 'deadline' at Andersonville Prison Camp?

• A timeline for prisoner release

• A fence that prisoners were forbidden to cross

• A schedule for food distribution

• A list of prisoners to be executed

How did some prisoners attempt to escape from Andersonville?

• By bribing the guards

• By digging tunnels under the camp walls

• By using hot air balloons

• By disguising themselves as Confederate soldiers

What was the main source of water for prisoners at Andersonville?

• Bottled water provided by the guards

• A man-made channel from a nearby creek

• A clean well within the camp

• Rainwater collected in barrels

What was a common punishment for prisoners caught stealing at Andersonville?

• Solitary confinement

• Being put in the stocks or wearing a ball and chain

• Immediate execution

• Transfer to another prison

What offer did the Confederates make to Union prisoners to gain their freedom?

• To work as spies for the Confederacy

• To take an oath of allegiance to the Confederacy

• To pay a ransom

• To join the Confederate army

Who was held responsible for the conditions at Andersonville and later executed?

• Ulysses S. Grant

• Robert E. Lee

• Henry Wirz

• Jefferson Davis

What was the reaction of Northerners upon learning about the conditions at Andersonville?

• They demanded more prisoners be sent there

• They supported the Confederacy

• They were horrified

• They were indifferent

What was the fate of Henry Wirz, the Confederate captain at Andersonville?

• He was pardoned

• He escaped to Europe

• He became a Union general

• He was executed