prison+camps+5

 __  ** Prison Camps ** History: __          Prison camps were started on July 18, 1862. Major General John A. Dix (member of the union army) and Major General Daniel H. Hill (confederate representative) met for the exchange of prisoners. A cartel was made and sent to superiors for approval. The cartel was approved four days later and was known as the Dix-Hill Cartel. During mid-year, the cartel failed because of the rejection of the confederate and because the Government would not allow the exchanging of black prisoners. In result, black prisoners were threatened to be treated as slaves and white officers were threatened to be executed. Soon enough the Secretary of War, Edwin M. Stanton told commanders of places of confinement that exchanging prisoners will be abolished. "Holding pens" became permanent prisons. __ Facts: __ Conditions in the camps were often worse than battlefield conditions.

Earlier, prison managers realized that less formal buildings and areas would be adequate for the prisoners.

High mortality rates were not deliberate but the results of nutrition and poor sanitation were said to be not intended. Elmire, New York saw about 25% mortality rates.

More than 150 prison camps were used but only some were important. The certain types of camps were fit into catogories of the following: former jails and penitentiares, fortifications, altered buildings, enclosured barracks and enlosures around tents and open stockades. These 150 prison camps were over populated.

Prison camps of the South were usually tobacco factories.

The largest prison camp, Andersonville, housed nearly 33,000 men into 26.5 acres of shelters that lacked sewers and sanitation.

There were shortages of food, shelter and clothes. Diseases and death were caused due to the shortages. Diseases that were most common were: smallpox, typhoid, dysentery, cholera, and maleria. Infected cuts and sores turned into gangrene and gangrene was treated by amputation.

Food consisted of pickeled beef, salt pork, corn meal, rice or bean soup. The lack of fruit and Vegatable intake caused diseases. Men in the North would hunt rats because food was terribly scarce in the prison camps.

Andersonville is the Civil War's most commonly known prison camp. Camp Chase was a prison camp that was not as harsh as other camps. Elmira was the Union's version of Andersonville. The Libby Prison was one of the least harsh camps. Old Capitol Prison was also recognized as one of the least harsh prison camps. __       Some Prison Camps of the Union __        Alton Prison, Camp Chase, Camp Douglas, Camp Randall, Elmira, Fort Delaware, Fort Jefferson, Fort McHenry, Old Capitol Prison, Point Lookout and Rock Island.      __ States of the Union __ California, Conneticuit, Illinois, Delaware, Indiana, Kansas, Iowa, Maine, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Massachussetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Vermont, Rhode Island, Wisconsin, and West Virginia.      __ States of the Confederacy __ North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennesse, Mississippi, Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Virginia, Arkansas and Georgia.      __ Some Prison Camps of the Confederacy __ Andersonville, Belle Isle, Cahaba Prison, Camp Ford, Castle Pinckney, Castle Thunder, Danville Prison, Libby Prison and Salisbury Prison. ^Elmira Death Camp of the North. ^Andersonville Prison camp.

Works Cited:

http://www.censusdiggins.com/Civil_War_Prisons.html

http://civilwarhome.com/Prisons.htm

http://www.news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/07/0701_030701_civilwarprisons.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/union_(American_Civil_War)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/confederate_states_of_America