Roger- Richmond's Libby was the prison for captured officers. Enlisted men were confined at Belle Isle, an island in the James River. So if you know your ancestor's rank, you can presume where he was held. By the end of 1863, Belle Isle held around 10,000 Yankee prisoners. The Confederates started moving prisoners South after the Kilpatrick- Dahlgren cavalry raid, feeling these camps were too exposed to raids. You say your ancestor was moved to Andersonville, which was the camp for enlisted men and where the Belle Isle detainees were sent, that is likely where your kin had been confined in Richmond. Prisoners from Libby were transported to Macon. A best guess would say your kin would have been in Richmond from 4- 6 months. The prisoners at Andersonville suffered and died throughout the summer of 1864 till the Southern government started moving them out as Sherman approached central Georgia. An unsuccessful cavalry raid by Stoneman had the liberation of Andersonville (Camp Sumter) as one of its primary targets. The men were mainly removed to Charleston and Salisbury prison camps in the Carolines. Sumter did stay open though.
Curious as to how your ancestor pulled through at Andersonville and his subsequent adventures. regards, ed
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Libby Prison Question? 
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