Anderson Confederate Prison, also known as Camp Sumter, was a Confederate prisoner-of-war camp located in Andersonville, Georgia, during the American Civil War.
Many people were involved in the operation of Anderson Confederate Prison, including:
1. Captain Henry Wirz: Wirz was the commandant of the prison camp from March 1864 until its closure in April 1865. He was later tried and executed for his alleged mistreatment of prisoners.
2. Confederate Army authorities: The overall management and implementation of the prison camp fell under the Confederate Army authorities.
3. Guards and sentinels: Confederate soldiers were assigned as guards and sentinels to oversee the prisoners held at Andersonville.
4. Medical staff: A small medical staff was present at the camp, consisting of Confederate Army doctors and surgeons, responsible for the healthcare of the prisoners. However, they were overwhelmed by the sheer number of inmates and the challenging conditions.
5. Confederate prisoners: While Andersonville initially served as a detention facility for Union prisoners of war, it also housed Confederate prisoners who had been arrested for various offenses.
6. Union prisoners of war: The majority of individuals held at Andersonville were Union soldiers captured during battle. These prisoners suffered greatly due to overcrowding, lack of shelter, food shortages, and inadequate medical care.
7. Confederate civilians: Local residents in Andersonville were aware of the prison camp's existence and some participated in providing goods and services to the prisoners, albeit at high prices.
It is worth noting that the conditions at Andersonville were horrific, with a mortality rate that remains one of the highest among all prison camps during the Civil War.