A Most Horrible National Sin

[matthew mckeon]

I've just finished the article in the current North and South magazine(Vol. 9, Number 5) by Charles Sanders, Jr. about POWs both North and South during the war.

Sanders writes an searing indictment of both sides, arguing that the tragically high death toll was the result of deliberate neglect by both governments.

On the CSA side, occasional sadists like Capt. George Alexander, CO of Thunder Castle prison in Richmond were the least of the problem. The key "villian" is the only way to put it, was Lucius Northrop, who continued to ship prisoners to Andersonville, despite pleas by the commandant, as well as refusal to establish "the most rudimentary" sanitation, shelter, clothing, of rations, even when an abundance of these materials existed. Sanders describes Northrop as "obstreperous and pitiless." Other CS officials come in for scathing criticism.

He is matched on the Union side by the notorious hard nosed Stanton, who denied "desperate entreaties" by Union officers for improvements on Union camps. The key, again, villian is the word, was Colonel William Hoffman, whose adminstration actually worsened conditions in the camps.
Even Benjamin Butler found conditions in Point Lookout "abysmal." Other Union officials are also pilloried.

Strong article, opinionated in the best way possible.

[whitworth]

If an author wants to take an anti-war position, he need only examine the segmented history of prisoner of war camps to "solidify" his position.

One can easily segmentize history by studying the death rate in prison camps and totally ignore the study of the death rate in ordinary army camps.
Most students of the Civil War are aware a soldier was more likely to die of disease and camp maladies than dying in battle. Taking into consideration the medical treatments and camp hygiene of the time, it is not surprising so many soldiers died, other than in battle.
The Confederacy could not adequate supply the Army of Northern Virginia during the war. Is it any wonder that life in prison camp in southern Georgia would be better?
Considering the medical system of the time, placing solders in a military camp was a death sentence to so many soldiers. Are we to be surprised that putting soldiers in a more confined prison, would yield the same death rate, as a normal army camp?

And in the reality of the times, I doubt one could expect superb treatment of prisoners in Camp Douglas in Chicago, when reports came in on the treatment of prisoners in Andersonville Georgia.

[matthew mckeon]

Dear whitworth,
The point that the article was making was that the death rate at prison camps far exceeded the death rate in army camps. He also rejected the argument that the CSA couldn't supply the camps, he claims the food was available. The scarcity issue is not applicable to the North, of course. Benjamin Butler(of all people) found thousands of unexpended dollars sitting in prison camp accounts, despite POWs suffering from cold, and lack of winter clothes.

[ole]

Benjamin Butler(of all people) found thousands of unexpended dollars sitting in prison camp accounts, despite POWs suffering from cold, and lack of winter clothes.

If there was money to be found, I'd bet Ben would be the one to do it.
Ole

[larry_cockerham]

Two folks I know about, Cpl. Elihu Weaver of the 5th NC Cav CSA captured Oct 23, 1863 in Philadelphia, Tennessee and James Ratliff Whaley captured July 2, 1863 at Gettysburg spent the remainder of the war in Rock Island, ILL (transferred to Point Lookout, MD) and Ft. Delaware respectively. The fact that both survived to old age must mean it was possible and that some minimal or slightly better care was given. All three of these prisons were located in areas where the armies hadn't stripped the local forage, so at least food supplies were likely more abundant than in the south.