Andersonville National Historic Site1864-1865
We spent 5 hours here and could have spent more time but that was enough. To think almost 13,000 died out of more than 45,000 Union prisoner's. What I didn't realize was that this is not only one of the largest Confederate prisons established during the Civil War but is a memorial to all American prisoners of war for all wars. In the National Prisoner of War Museum which is dedicated to the men and women of this country who suffered captivity there are 9 thematic halls with exhibits honoring American prisoners of war from all conflicts.
We watched two 25 minute movies. One was Echoes of Captivity and listening to the stories by former POW's almost tore you apart. So many said the most difficult time for them was when they could hear other prisoner's being beaten and some beaten to death and being powerless to do anything about it. The other movie was Voices from Andersonville, hearing the facts of the deplorable conditions at the camp. I like so many people never give this kind of stuff much thought and thank goodness we have these places we can go to reflect.
The prison was 26 1/2 acres on completion with a 15 foot high stockade wall around and about 19 feet inside the wall was the "deadline" and if prisoners crossed the deadline they would be shot on the spot. There are so many things I could speak of regarding the camp conditions but I just can't, there is a quote from on of the prisoners, a Sgt. David Kennedy of the 9th Ohio Cavalry wrote in his diary: July 9th 1864 "Wuld that I was an artist & had the material to paint this camp & all its horors or the tongue of some eloquent Statesman and had the privleage of expresing my mind to our hon. rulers at Washington. I should gloery to describe this hell on Earth where it takes 7 of its ocupiants to make a Shadow."
Now I will add pictures tomorrow.
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