Prison Layout
The location of Andersonville was chosen because of distance from the coast and the unapproachability for the North. It was located so far inland it allowed the Confederates to keep easy control of the prison and keep the Union soldiers out or away. It was also so deep into the South that it swelteringly hot starting in May. This meant the diseases and mortality rate would begin to climb in the beginning of the year and eventually to start to cease towards the end of the year. Rectangular in shape the prison sat on a plot of
land that was 26.5 acres.
The prison was set on a plot of land with a
small valley in the middle, and there was a small stream that provided water
for the prisoners. It was called Providence Spring and the legend behind it
inspired many prisoners to keep their hope alive.
There were multiple guard towers surrounding the
prison which gave easy access to the prisoners and other guards. The towers
were about twenty feet tall and allowed one guard to stand in each. Because of the closed, cramped quarters, it was easy to see the prisoners. Some townspeople even came to gawk and humiliate the prisoners while they stood in the guard towers.Because there trees located in and around the prison, prisoners would attempt to dig well or escape tunnels. There were at least eighty attempts to dig these wells/escape tunnels. Most of them would have been successful simply because of the location; however, many of the attempts were foiled thanks to Confederate informants inside of the prison. The prisoners had no shovels to dig with so they were forced to use their hands or whatever they could find. This made the work slower and less efficient. It also took more work which weakened the prisoners.
The prison consisted of two walls and in those walls there was an area ten feet in width called the Deadline. If you stepped into the Deadline you would get shot immediately. The Stockade was where the prisoners were kept. The perimeter of the Stockade ran along the inside of the prison and this was the actual holding area of the prison.
The gates were located around the prison but the
most well known is the South Gate because it was where the prisoners entered
the prison for the first time. There was a little holding area where prisoners
were taken to when they first entered the prison, it was almost like holding
cell until their names were written down and put on file. The gates were set so
there was one way in and one way out.
The hospital was hardly one. It was located a
few meters from the prison itself. It didn’t really qualify as a hospital
because there was almost nothing the nurses on hand could do. They were there
to ease the pain and suffering of the dying soldiers. There wasn’t any modern
medicine to help the diseases or infections. Water was also scarce so
dehydration was a big cause for the deaths of many soldiers.
The Earthworks were man made mounds of soil with a ditch at the bottom of
the hill. This was the Confederates would have the uphill advantage. There were
cannons placed on the Earthworks.
The cannons were strategically aimed, two at the
forest awaiting attack ,and two trained on the prisoners in case of an
incident. The Star Fort is in the shape of a star with five points giving it
the advantage of being able to see in all directions. These
cannons allowed the guards of the prison to attack at anytime and contain the
prisoners. Some of the cannons' specifications are listed below:
Gun Tube: Wrought Iron 817 lbs.
Projectile: Shell and Case Shot
Range: ½ mile with case and shot.
The cannons were made to withstand the amount of pressure it took to fire a cannonball one half mile into the prison or into the forest.
Gun Tube: Wrought Iron 817 lbs.
Projectile: Shell and Case Shot
Range: ½ mile with case and shot.
The cannons were made to withstand the amount of pressure it took to fire a cannonball one half mile into the prison or into the forest.
The Bakery was the where the food came from,
even if it was just a few loaves of bread. The food was poorly cooked with almost no
nutritional value, so prisoners were forced to eat the bread from there that
they were given or nothing at all. The food was poorly
cooked with almost no nutritional value, so prisoners were forced to eat the bread from there that they were given or
nothing at all.
The gates were located around the prison but the most well known is the South Gate because it was where the prisoners entered the prison for the first time. There was a little holding area where prisoners were taken to when they first entered the prison, it was almost like holding cell until their names were written down and put on file. The gates were set so there was one way in and one way out.