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Essay On Prison Camps In The Civil War

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The Civil War prison camps were very important in the Civil War because they were responsible for claiming thousands of lives from both sides. What were these prison camps used in the Civil War? They were places where each side would keep most of their Prisoners of War, or more commonly known as P.O.W.’s, incarcerated. The camps were usually coastal fortifications, old buildings, existing jails, or barracks enclosed with high fences. Conditions at these camps were very harsh and the mortality rate, or the chance you have of getting out alive, was on average 27%. There were more than 150 prison camps established throughout the Civil War. They were all filled way past their capacity limits so inmates were very crowded with very little provisions and surrounded by disease. Three infamous prison camps are the Union’s Fort Delaware, Elmira Prison in New York, and Camp Sumter or Andersonville Prison. An estimated 56,000 men perished in prison camps during the Civil War. (National Geographic Society) The Union’s Fort Delaware, which was nicknamed “The Fort Delaware Death Pen”, was completed being built in 1859. The camp was located on Pea Path Island. The prison was in the shape of a pentagon and covered a total of six acres. The fort was feared but the fort’s own commandant, General Albin F. Schoepf, along with the Confederates. …show more content…

There were many prison camps used during the Civil War and they were all terrible. The prison camps during the Civil War helped claim the lives of thousands of the deaths from the Civil War, and most people don’t know how much of an impact the prison camps had on the total number of deaths throughout the Civil War. They killed thousands of soldiers on both sides, making an impact on each side’s soldier count, and adding another fear to the soldier’s head. The prison camps used during the Civil War killed as many as 56,000

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Civil War soldiers fought for something more than just manhood, duty, government, and their country. They fought for and against slavery, which for most soldiers was their primary motivation beyond defending their home. Slavery for many was more than just an institution, it was the fabric of their economic society that provided the wealth and opportunity to the South. Without slavery the South could not operate and prosper which made it impossible for the notion of emancipation. However, those in the North did not immediately rely on the institution of slavery in such dire manner.

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August 1st, 1863 one of the worst prison camps for confederates in the civil war was created. Point Lookout was established right after the Battle of Gettysburg to take confederate soldiers. Point Lookout had caused many conflicts for prisoners in camp. Some conflicts that Point Lookout caused for soldiers was disease, hunger, and even death. Nearly 50,000 soldiers became prisoners and 4,000 died in the process.

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Scaffolding was set up along one side of the building where, on the night of April 21, a fire broke out. At the time of the incident 4,300 inmates were housed in the prison, nearly three times the amount that was appropriate for the facility. The cell-block adjacent to the fire housed 800 prisoners; by the time the fire had become noticeable, many them had already

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Ulysses S. Grant took no part in the operation in the prison camps. He did not have anything to do with the creation of these camps let alone taking part in the operation, which he could not have done based on his rank early in the war. Most of the camps were built and officially started operating between the years 1861 and 1862, when Grant was off "displayed his military prowess early in the conflict. In 1861, he led 3,000 troops into his first major engagement.” This meaning he was busy in combat while other leaders when discussing the camps.

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Most suffered from PTSD for the rest of their lives, along with other permanent mental and physical damage. After returning home, the Union soldiers told stories of the hardships they endured at the Andersonville Prison. Northerners and Southerners alike were appalled after finding out what was really going on in Southern prison camps. Demanding someone be blamed for these horrors, government officials asked those involved, and the answer was most often the same: nearly 150 former prisoners, guards, civilians, and medical staff testified that Wirz was to be blamed, as he had violated the laws of war by not only withholding available food and supplies, but also by issuing orders that resulted in the death of Union prisoners of war. Henry Wirz was charged with all of the deaths that occurred at the Andersonville prison.

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This large star shaped fort held 13,000 confederate soldiers after the appalling battle of Gettysburg. This fort was very important to the union winning the civil war. Major Alexander C.W. Fanning was the first commander of Fort Delaware. Many of these confederate soldiers,who were caught, attempted escape many times which is why many believe the fort is haunted by confederate soldiers.

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