Andersonville: Hell On Earth

[larry_cockerham]

I had an ancestor who was blessed with the opportunity to be housed for a brief period at Rock Island Arsenal and then was taken for more than a year to Pt. Lookout. While he lost a lung, he survived and lived a long life. My wife's ancestor spent a similar time at Ft. Delaware after his capture at Gettysburg for the remainder of the war. My take is that while not exactly Econolodge, there was some basic shelter, minimal medical attention and a good clerk. These boys must have faired slighly better than their southern counterparts such as Andersonville. The Confederacy was having far too much of a challenge distributing food, clothes and bullets to our soldiers. Priorities, you know. A much better chance of survival with competent officers in charge could have been possible in northern climes geographically removed from battle central. Ft. Delaware and Pt. Lookout had a few skeeters, but at least they were near supply sources.

[Freddy]

When he was moved to Camp Lawton in Millen, GA in October 1864 the prisoners found better conditions and they wanted to know why.


October 17th.
Another change and thus far an agreeable one. On the thirteenth we were moved about eighty miles to a newly built stockade near Millen, Georgia. Thus far we can find no fault with our quarters and but little with our rations which are nearly double the amount we had at Andersonsville. We draw one pint of meal, six ounces of uncooked beef, a teaspoonful of salt, six of rice, each day and also sweet potatoes two or three times a week. Some days the rice changed for beans but the latter is so buggy that we get pretty hungry before we eat them. Our prison contains forty-two acres and as there are but eight thousand of us we have a chance to spread out without hindrance. It is christened, “Camp Lawton”, has a fine stream running through it, several rods of gravelly bottom for bathing, another for our wash tub, and the last section as a sewer, over which are built sanitary facilities in glad contrast to the horribly filthy arrangements of Andersonsville. As we marched about the grounds were divided into thousands, and subdivided into hundreds and located in military order. Ten brick ovens, and ten large iron kettles are set in position on the west side and the cooking for each thousand is done independently. Ten iron kettles holding about two gallons each have been given to each hundred with which to draw rations. The officer in charge seems to be a gentleman as well as a soldier and as far as we can see does all he can for our welfare. Thirty out of each hundred have been permitted to go out for boughs for bedding. A few axes were given us, and out of the debris remaining from the building of the stockade shacks ( or “shebanks” as we call them) are going up all over the camp, for it looks as if we may have to winter here. It is needless to say that the axes are kept busy from dawn to dark. We question why this change of treatment and rations, and think that Jefferson Davis, or General Winder, or somebody has repented of their evil deeds, and are now doing deeds worthy of repentance.

[ole]

Thanks for that one, as well, Freddy.

The sentence, "A few axes were given us, and out of the debris remaining from the building of the stockade shacks ..." Did he miss a comma? "A few axes were given us, and out of the debris remaining from the building of the stockade(,) shacks ..."

It was my understanding that when Sherman marched through Millen (not long after this letter), the troops were so incensed at the conditions they found that they remained angry for days.

Was Andersonville so bad that those moved to Millen thought they were in heaven?

Ole

[Freddy]

Andersonville was truely "Hell On Earth". He received extra rations as a detachment sergeant and shared them with his three tent mates. This helped them to survive. Over one hundred men per day died of starvation, disease, and/or poor conditions.

I do not blame Wirz. His problem was his nasty disposition toward the prisoners, which bred contempt and hatred. Deep down they knew he was just a pawn in a hopeless situation. However, Wirz was a visible target for their hate, while Winder and others were out of site and were not usually blamed for the horrible conditions.


August 7th.
Have been very busy with work incident to the increasing number of sick in the ninety. Many of the worst cases have been taken to the hospital. On the morning of the fourth, word came that all the worst cases in camp were to be brought to the gate, and that from them a large number would be transferred to the hospital. On the strength of this, thousands crowded in a dense mass in the street and by paths leading to the gate, some hobbling, some literally crawling on hands and knees, and hundreds too weak to hobble or crawl were carried in blankets by their comrades. but all in vain for ten a.m. word came that no more were to be taken out today. Next morning came the word again and those able were again in waiting many with glad and expectant faces, feeling that whatever the change might bring them, at least it could be to no worse condition. But again came word that no more would be taken out until 2 p.m. At 2 word came that only those in the first eleven detachments would be taken. Pencil cannot picture the despairing faces nor words describe the sad scenes incident to these two day’s gatherings of the sick of Andersonsville. Especially as the last word came and those who were able hobbled or were borne back to their quarters. Many were sunstruck, a dozen or more died while waiting or on the way. Among them one of my ninety. He had been wasting away and was a sad and loathsome spectacle of whom it might be said in truth before death released him, “He was eaten by worms.” The Good Book says, “Hope deferred maketh the heart sick”, and truly may this be said of scores about the prison, who up to this day have fought a good fight with hunger, nakedness, and disease. They are now hopeless, heartsick, and discouraged. The needless indignation of their fellow prisoners at this cruelty to the sick is intense and many of us feel that were Captain Wirz to enter the camp unattended, he would be torn limb form limb. We see no reason why the proper officials could not visit the camp and get the Sergeant of each ninety to point out the sick under his charge and all the above exposure and suffering saved.