Andersonville Civil War Prison

 

 

by Kevin Frye

Unk Hiram's Chat Cabins  

February 20, 2003

 

 

PappaSmurf: OK, I guess ya'll all know Andersonville is our speaker tonight
He is an expert on Andersonville CSA POW Camp. He is gonna give a little talk then hopefully answer some questions

ANDERSONVILLECW: ( expert? ) I'M still learning every visit.... Grin

Michael: I assume he will give us a brief history of the camp

Mike: Anderson, in comparison to us.... You are an expert

ANDERSONVILLECW: Thanks.... Its an obsession / hobby that is very rewarding ...

Michael: how far away from home have u traveled, that determines if u are an expert or not

GenHostSage: Kevin do you also research your roots

ANDERSONVILLECW: I live about 40 miles from the site..I go every other week or so

ANDERSONVILLECW: Yes Gen,,, I did anyway,,,,,My Andersonville work has put a stop on my own research for the past 2 years or so I have my family back to early 1700`s,,here in USA......but have gotten enough to satisfy me

Bits: Pappa....... like I told those who were here awhile ago.... Kevin did one of the nicest things for me that anyone has ever done.... he photographed all the tombstones of Delaware Soldiers buried at Andersonville and sent me their information too so I could use them on my

ANDERSONVILLECW: OK Folks..... This is my first time but I think can do this smoothly.

 

 

Hi Researchers. My name is Kevin Frye and I live in Butler, Georgia, a small town 40 miles from the infamous Andersonville Civil War Prison Camp . I am a Local historian and Volunteer for the National Park Service here at Andersonville National Historic Site. The work I do here is for all POWS.

 

 

My work is not to stir up arguments about which was worse, Andersonville? Or Elmira? My work is here,, because this is where I am. I have the largest website on the internet on Andersonville, with many resources for information as well as links to the online lookup databases These databases were last revised last February, however, I have a copy of the newest revision which has more than 9000 more than presently available in the Macon County site.

 

 

I will do lookups for NO COST,,,,just for the asking. I also have a CD with the roster of 41717 names by alphabet which helps me find names by alternative spellings. My email address is Frye@gnat.net. 

 

 

Andersonville, or Camp Sumter as it was officially known, was one of the largest of many established prison camps during the American Civil War.  It was built early in 1864 after Confederate officials decided to move the large number of Federal prisoners kept in and around Richmond, Virginia, to a place of greater security and a more abundant food supply.  

 

 

During the 14 months the prison existed, more than 45,000 Union Solders were confined here. Of these, almost 13,000 died from disease, poor sanitation, malnutrition, overcrowding, or exposure to the elements.  The pen initially covered about 16 1/2 acres of land enclosed by a 15 foot high stockade of hewn pine logs. It was enlarged to 26 1/2 acres in June of 1864. The stockade was in the shape of a parallelogram 1,620 feet long and 779 feet wide.

 

Sentry boxes, or "pigeon roost" as the prisoners called them, stood at 30 yard intervals along the top of the stockade.  Inside, about 19 feet from the wall, was the " DEADLINE ," which the prisoners were forbidden to cross upon threat of death.  Flowing through the prison yard was a stream called Stockade Branch, which supplied water to most of the prison.

 

Two entrances, the North Gate and the South Gate, were on the West side of the stockade.  Eight small earthen forts located around the exterior of the prison were equipped with artillery to quell disturbances within the compound and to defend against feared Union cavalry attacks.  

 

The first prisoners were brought to Andersonville in February, 1864. During the next few months approximately 400 more arrived each day until, by the end of June, some 26,000 men were confined in a prison area originally intended to hold 13,000.  The largest number held at any one time was more than 32,000- about the population of present-day Sumter County- in August, 1864.

Handicapped by deteriorating economic conditions, an inadequate transportation system, and the need to concentrate all available resources on the army, the Confederate government was unable to provide adequate housing, food, clothing, and medical care to their Federal captives.  These conditions, along with a breakdown of the prisoner exchange system, resulted in much suffering and a high mortality rate.

 

On July 9, 1864, Sgt. David Kennedy of the 9th Ohio Cavalry wrote in his diary:
"Would that I was an artist & had the material to paint this camp & all its horors or the tounge of some eloquent Statesman and had the privilege of expressing my mind to our hon. rulers in Washington, I should gloery to describe this hell on earth where it takes 7 of its occupants to make a shadow"

 

April 8, 1864-- "We sometimes draw cow peas for rations, and being a printer by trade, I spread the cow peas out on a blanket and quickly pick them up one at a time, after the manner of picking up type. One drawback is the practice of unconsciously putting the beans into my mouth. In this way I often eat up the whole printing office." --John Ransom, Sgt., 9th MI CAV

 

ANDERSONVILLECW: I have several events in a timeline,,, but thought I might take a break for questions.....

 

Mike: Q I read something about the “raiders” and “regulators”, can you explain who they were?

 

ANDERSONVILLECW: As in any society or social order there was good and bad at Andersonville. Good men tried to help others, shared their meager rations with friends and nursed fellow prisoners when they were ill.  On the other side was a band of people who would have been bad in any society, but due to the shortage of food these people pillaged, beat and murdered their fellow prisoners for their food and material goods.  

 

 

These people were known as the "Raiders". Their activity was reported in the diary of John Ransom of the 9th Michigan Cavalry, on April 28, 1864 "Raiders do about as they please, and their crimes would fill more paper than I have to my disposal." The majority of these men had been attracted to military service by the rewards of bounty-jumping and had been captured before they could collect their bounties and find an opportunity to desert.

 

On June 20th, Michael Daughtry of the 13th Pennsylvania Cavalry wrote, "It is reported that the remains of a man was found in a tent buried. The tent belongs to a bunch of Raiders. It appears they killed him, robbed him and then buried him in their tent and slept over the body." 

 

 

According to diary entries the Raider rendezvous point was at the southwest end of the prison.  These guys were a group of about 800 to 1500 est. THUGS who ran the site link streets run by gangs.. They stole,,, beat,, killed for anything that could be useful..  There were 6 leaders,,, who were eventually tried and hanged in a military  trial..inside the stockade,,, by a court made up by prisoners.

 

 

The rest of the group were forced to run between 2 lines of prisoners, who had the opportunity to hit them with their fist...sticks.... anything they had available.

 

Mike: Q And the regulators were the one's who banned against them?

 

ANDERSONVILLECW: Yes Mike,,, A Prisoner known as Limber Jim......a figure in the TNT Movie,,, was a lead in the uprising and became a head of the regulators.  The prisoners took the 6 under control and asked WIRZ if he would hold them outside the stockade until the trial.  This way,,, a military court could be made up of 24 new arrival officers who did know the story from experience.

 

Mike: Wow, so they were reduced to turning against themselves.

 

ANDERSONVILLECW: Yes,,,,Their claim was they did what they had to,, in order to survive

 

cdlake: So how many were court marshalled?

 

ANDERSONVILLECW: These 6 leaders,,, in the beginning of the war,,,,joined the army,,, collected induction pay....deserted.. Joined elsewhere,, did the same...... Until finally got captured before getting the chance to desert

 

ANDERSONVILLECW: CD...There were 6,,,who were hanged,, and buried here at Andersonville,,, separate from the other dead. Only graves of the 19000 here with no flags on Memorial day.

 

Mike: Q You mentioned the dead line. Was this an excuse to kill prisoners at times?

 

ANDERSONVILLECW: The deadline served several purposes.....
1. It kept the prisoners away from the stockade wall,, in easy view of the guards in the " Roost "
It also gave the guards a way to walk the interior,,, being able to inspect the stockade walls.....
This deadline also let the guards patrol the area between the line and stockade so they could push long metal
rods in the ground to feel for soft spots......... TUNNELS

 

The deadline was not unique to Andersonville. It was used in all wood stockades,,, Union as well as Confederate

 

PappaSmurf: Point of Info: Dead line's were also used in German POW camps during WW 2, They made a point of showing them in the movie "The Great Escape"

 

GenHostSage: Q were there ever any successful escapes, Kevin?

 

ANDERSONVILLECW: There were about 340 escapes....but all but about a dozen were recaptured.

 

cdlake: You mean to tell me that 19000 of the 26000 men who were there died?

 

ANDERSONVILLECW: CD.... 12960 prisoners died,,,,,, Still operational National Cemetery

 

cdlake: ok, still that is a huge amount of individuals

 

ANDERSONVILLECW: Only one reported to have escaped by Tunnel.......The one mentioned in the TNT Movie,,, his name escapes me,,, He is on record here as escaping

 

Other ways of escape were to overpower the guards while on Burial detail
Bribing the guards when paroled outside the stockade......

 

One interesting example was that a couple are on record as playing dead.....
Being carried the the " Dead house " by fellow prisoners and left there.....
When dark came,,,,the dead man simply got up and ran
This was found out in short manner by the confederates
and no others were able to try this manner

ANDERSONVILLECW: Next question ?

 

GenHostSage: Q Is there some sort of memorial there that lists the names of all the occupants and those who died

 

Mike: Q Were there prisoner exchanges?

 

ANDERSONVILLECW: There were several during the operation of Andersonville...I haven't the dates but think June 1864.... January 1865... and a few brief periods in between. Most were done in Atlanta.

 

Cease123: Q were there any rebellious Confederate troops imprisoned there ie Court martial, Deserters etc????

 

ANDERSONVILLECW: Cease,,, There was a smaller stockade built between the main Andersonville stockade and the town of Andersonville.  It was known as Stockade REED...It was built for Confederate officers who went " BAD."  It was soon used for Union officers who were soon sent to the officers stockade in Macon Ga... Known as Oglethorpe Stockade.  Reed was only used by about 45 prisoners,,, and only used for 3 months.  Oglethorpe treated the officers much better as they carried more value in trade. Only one noted as dying,,, shot at the deadline.

 

Mike: Q Can you tell us what records exist about the prisoners/guards and how they were kept? Could one get copies of original documents?

 

Mike... Most of the records here are of regimental rosters,,, adj reports,,etc,,
Normally name,,,, State,,, Regiment and Company.,,, Sometimes date and place of capture
If they died here,, Grave number,,, Cause of death,,,,,,
some other small notes,, but typically that is all available unless a descendant has sent records

 

As far as the dead.....Here is how the records were kept
A fellow prisoner,,, Dorence Atwater was placed in charge of keeping the death list...

 

GenHostSage: "Q" isn't a lot of what is known from diaries and letters and info furnished after the war by survivors ???

 

ANDERSONVILLECW: Yes Sage,,, Many were noted by witnesses upon discharge....

 

ANDERSONVILLECW: When the dead were brought to the dead house to await burial....

 

Atwater registered all information known by the dead mans friends,,,,,,  The dead were stripped naked and buried shoulder to shoulder in trenches 4 feet deep...long enough for 150 to 200 bodies.  A wooden post was placed at the head of each grave with a number,,, the number that matched Atwater's records...

 

Following the war,,,,, July 1865... Clara Barton and Atwater returned here to establish the New National Cemetery... They replaced the post with wooden headboards by matching the numbers with Atwater's records.

 

kat: I'm looking at a picture of a prisoner by Andrew Jackson Riddle---gives new meaning to the term "skin and bones" :-I :-I

 

ANDERSONVILLECW: Keep that thought Kat....

 

ANDERSONVILLECW: In 1878...These boards were replaced with the first set of stones........
These were then replaced in 1898-1899 with the stones that now mark the graves.
This is how the records...and how accurate markers ,,,, mark the grave to the man below it.

 

GenHostSage: "Q" Kevin has there ever been any follow-up through pension records of as to how the survivors fared after their release

 

ANDERSONVILLECW: Thanks to Atwaters records.......there are only 460 unknown.

 

GenHostSage: That is amazing considering how many died

 

ANDERSONVILLECW: He made a second secret copy which he smuggled out when he was exchanged.

 

Mike: Smart man.....

 

ANDERSONVILLECW: His list had more than 2000 names that were lost by the Confederates copy

 

ANDERSONVILLECW: On the photo note,,, Riddle was the only man who photographed Andersonville.  He was here days before Providence spring ,, came to be and took the only 7 known photos of the site

 

GenHostSage: "Q" is there a list of pictures Riddle took and who they were

 

ANDERSONVILLECW: Riddle was a local man and is buried in Macon. I'm going to find his grave next week,,, I hope,,, and add it to my website

 

kat: his pictures are sombersome

 

ANDERSONVILLECW: Most are looking over the stockade wall..... One has Skin and bones alive,,,, Names not known.

 

kat: THAT'S THE ONE I'M LOOKING AT :-I

 

ANDERSONVILLECW: One well known photo is of burial detail,,, shows the burial trench.....The man in the white shirt is said to be Riddle

 

GenHostSage: "Q" Is there a site where these can be seen   Pictures I mean

 

ANDERSONVILLECW: Sage,,,,,, I have been meaning to place the ones I have,,, I have about 5 I think on a page on my site... I have not yet,,, but will do so this week.

 

GenHostSage: Would appreciate seeing them

 

Mike: I have a personal question relating to one Sage asked earlier....

 

ANDERSONVILLECW: so others can see period photos of the site during operation as well as in the years following

 

ANDERSONVILLECW: Yes Mike?

 

Mike: Q If I have a CW pension record of an ancestor that states he was in Andersonville, but he cannot be found on the index, what would the next step be for researching?

 

ANDERSONVILLECW: Mike,, What name? I have database and it will take me only a sec to look,,, If no one minds...

 

Mike: Preston HENSON 46th OH

 

ANDERSONVILLECW: I have the most recent revision dated October 02 2002. Your correct, He is not on record

 

 

cdlake: Q do you have a website with this information?

 

ANDERSONVILLECW: Email me and I will send you the address to send copies. You have documents showing Andersonville by name?

 

Mike: I have date of capture and date of release, Yes I have Pension file and service record

 

ANDERSONVILLECW: The curators here have a very tight guideline that they must follow to keep records as accurate as possible...  That should qualify with no problem and get a file opened in his name

 

ANDERSONVILLECW: May I ask where Captured?

 

Mike: I'm sure it would need to be something from the government and not an affidavit from a relative
Mike: Captured Aug 3rd, 1864 says Atlanta

 

GenHostSage: Chatters feel free to pop in with questions and comments, don't be timid

 

ANDERSONVILLECW: Correct,,, Some references in diaries are acceptable and would be noted " Reported to have been / died at Andersonville...but records are the best chance

 

Mike: These are from Adjutant General

 

ANDERSONVILLECW: August ,,,He would not have been here long. September,, with Sherman coming through,,, all but a few thousand were transferred to other sites

 

PappaSmurf: Kevin, why don't you give t hem your website URL

 

ANDERSONVILLECW: Mike,,, Drop me an email at Frye@gnat.net I'll send you who and where to send copies

 

GenHostSage: "Q" Again Kevin has there ever been any research as to how the survivors fared after release

 

Mike: Actually says November 1864

 

ANDERSONVILLECW: http://www.angelfire.com/ga2/Andersonvilleprison/index.html

 

ANDERSONVILLECW: Sage...There were reunions here through early 1900`s...Many did survive.. Of the 45000 held here,, 13000 dead. Many did die elsewhere,,, but many thousands did survive...

 

ANDERSONVILLECW: The problem was that when released......  they experienced what many concentration camp survivors did in WWll

 

Mike: 29% death ratio...... unbelievable

 

ANDERSONVILLECW: Almost starved,,, their systems could not deal with sudden introduction of food,,,,,, and the fresh food killed them

 

ANDERSONVILLECW: Yes Mike... 29% here,,, 24% at Elmira

 

Mike: My ancestor listed as dying from Scurvy and Chronic Diarrhea

 

GenHostSage: WOW! Never heard of that before. Fresh food, huh!?!

 

ANDERSONVILLECW: Diarrhea as number 1 killer here,,,, not starvation as one would think

 

kat: I have 3 relatives that were NOT captured but still suffered very ill health after the war

 

ANDERSONVILLECW: Sage,,,,,You know what I mean...LOL
ANDERSONVILLECW: The polluted water supply here was the number 1 cause

 

Mike: Q Wasn't that running water?

 

ANDERSONVILLECW: The water came past the town of Andersonville....past the guards encampment,,, stables,,, bakery,,,,,,hospital,,, dead house,,, latrines,,,, then it entered the stockade for prisoner use

 

CJ: MIke, how long after the war did your ancester live ?

 

ANDERSONVILLECW: NOTE...There were also 229 Guards who died here..

 

Mike: Q What other genealogical services are provided at the historical site?

 

ANDERSONVILLECW: of the same causes

 

ANDERSONVILLECW: Andersonville is the National POW site for all American wars....

 

ANDERSONVILLECW: The only real services offered is if an ancestor was here...

 

Mike: Didn't know that....

 

ANDERSONVILLECW: Thats why I do what I do,,, to help those looking

 

ANDERSONVILLECW: It is the only National Cemetery in Georgia that is still taking burials of veterans

 

Mike: _Q What type of guard records, if any?

 

ANDERSONVILLECW: Most are name,, Regiment,, Company......Not much more. I have about 5000 records of guards who were here.  Mostly confirmation that they were here.

 

Mike: Sometimes that helps....

 

ANDERSONVILLECW: As in the TNT Movie......there was an offer for any prisoner who took an oath to fight for the south,, could leave the stockade...

 

GenHostSage: "Q" Is the site just an open field or is there some kind of remaining structure of the stockade and buildings

 

ANDERSONVILLECW: The movie showed prisoners turning away and saying no

 

GenHostSage: or perhaps reconstructed

 

ANDERSONVILLECW: Actually,,about 300 accepted the offer.

 

ANDERSONVILLECW: Sage,, Original structures are long one,, although I have 1868 or so photos  but the North Gate as well as the North East corner have been reconstructed

 

Mike: I would have guessed more than 300 took that offer

 

ANDERSONVILLECW: in the exact place of original..... found during digs in early 1990s
 

 

GenHostSage: "Q" are the pictures on your site, Kevin

 

ANDERSONVILLECW: They were joined with Col. Oniel of the Confederate 24th Tennessee Infantry CSA

 

Mike: Q What else did they find during the digs?

 

ANDERSONVILLECW: I have many present day photos on my site....... I have planned to add my period photos,,, but never got around to it. I will do it in the next week or so

 

ANDERSONVILLECW: Mike,,, Not much in artifacts, The site was operated by the US ARMY since the early 1900`s....

 

Mike: If anyone has not been to Kevin's site, take the time to do so....... it's fantastic.....

 

ANDERSONVILLECW: pretty much picked over.... Original Earthworks were used in trench warfare practice in wwl
http://www.angelfire.com/ga2/Andersonvilleprison/index.html

 

Unk_Hiram: Sounds like there is a lot of history there besides just the Civil War History

 

ANDERSONVILLECW: In 1899...I think it was,,,, there was a heavy rainstorm here,,, in the stockade,, there were the remains of 2 skeletons washed up....

 

These were so intertwined,,, they were buried in the cemetery under a common stone.... " 2 U.S. Soldiers"

 

Many individual stories of those who died here
One who is buried here... is a Medal of Honor recipient
He never knew he earned the medal,,, nor did his family. The medal is in the National archives.. never having been claimed

Strangley enough,,, he captured a battle flag at the Angle
It was a Georgia Flag