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The average number of square feet of ground to each prisoner in August
1864： 35。7
Within the circumscribed area of the Stockade the Federal prisoners were
compelled to perform all the offices of lifecooking； washing； the calls
of nature； exercise； and sleeping。 During the month of March the prison
was less crowded than at any subsequent time； and then the average space
of ground to each prisoner was only 98。7 feet； or less than seven square
yards。 The Federal prisoners were gathered from all parts of the
Confederate States east of the Mississippi； and crowded into the confined
space； until in the month of June the average number of square feet of
ground to each prisoner was only 33。2 or less than four square yards。
These figures represent the condition of the Stockade in a better light
even than it really was； for a considerable breadth of land along the
stream； flowing from west to east between the hills； was low and boggy；
and was covered with the excrement of the men； and thus rendered wholly
uninhabitable； and in fact useless for every purpose except that of
defecation。 The pines and other small trees and shrubs； which originally
were scattered sparsely over these hills； were in a short time cut down
and consumed by the prisoners for firewood； and no shade tree was left in
the entire enclosure of the stockade。 With their characteristic industry
and ingenuity； the Federals constructed for themselves small huts and
caves； and attempted to shield themselves from the rain and sun and night
damps and dew。 But few tents were distributed to the prisoners；
and those were in most cases torn and rotten。 In the location and
arrangement of these tents and huts no order appears to have been
followed； in fact； regular streets appear to be out of the question in so
crowded an area； especially too； as large bodies of prisoners were from
time to time added suddenly without any previous preparations。
The irregular arrangement of the huts and imperfect shelters was very
unfavorable for the maintenance of a proper system of police。
The police and internal economy of the prison was left almost entirely in
the hands of the prisoners themselves； the duties of the Confederate
soldiers acting as guards being limited to the occupation of the boxes
or lookouts ranged around the stockade at regular intervals； and to the
manning of the batteries at the angles of the prison。 Even judicial
matters pertaining to themselves； as the detection and punishment of such
crimes as theft and murder appear to have been in a great measure
abandoned to the prisoners。 A striking instance of this occurred in the
month of July； when the Federal prisoners within the Stockade tried；
condemned； and hanged six （6） of their own number； who had been convicted
of stealing and of robbing and murdering their fellow…prisoners。 They
were all hung upon the same day； and thousands of the prisoners gathered
around to witness the execution。 The Confederate authorities are said
not to have interfered with these proceedings。 In this collection of men
from all parts of the world； every phase of human character was
represented； the stronger preyed upon the weaker； and even the sick who
were unable to defend themselves were robbed of their scanty supplies of
food and clothing。 Dark stories were afloat； of men； both sick and well；
who were murdered at night； strangled to death by their comrades for
scant supplies of clothing or money。 I heard a sick and wounded Federal
prisoner accuse his nurse； a fellow…prisoner of the United States Army；
of having stealthily； during his sleep inoculated his wounded arm with
gangrene； that he might destroy his life and fall heir to his clothing。
。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。
The large number of men confined within the Stockade soon； under a
defective system of police； and with imperfect arrangements； covered the
surface of the low grounds with excrements。 The sinks over the lower
portions of the stream were imperfect in their plan and structure； and
the excrements were in large measure deposited so near the borders of the
stream as not to be washed away； or else accumulated upon the low boggy
ground。 The volume of water was not sufficient to wash away the feces；
and they accumulated in such quantities in the lower portion of the
stream as to form a mass of liquid excrement heavy rains caused the water
of the stream to rise； and as the arrangements for the passage of the
increased amounts of water out of the Stockade were insufficient； the
liquid feces overflowed the low grounds and covered them several inches；
after the subsidence of the waters。 The action of the sun upon this
putrefying mass of excrements and fragments of bread and meat and bones
excited most rapid fermentation and developed a horrible stench。
Improvements were projected for the removal of the filth and for the
prevention of its accumulation； but they were only partially and
imperfectly carried out。 As the forces of the prisoners were reduced by
confinement； want of exercise； improper diet； and by scurvy； diarrhea；
and dysentery； they were unable to evacuate their bowels within the
stream or along its banks； and the excrements were deposited at the very
doors of their tents。 The vast majority appeared to lose all repulsion
to filth； and both sick and well disregarded all the laws of hygiene and
personal cleanliness。 The accommodations for the sick were imperfect and
insufficient。 From the organization of the prison； February 24； 1864； to
May 22； the sick were treated within the Stockade。 In the crowded
condition of the Stockade； and with the tents and huts clustered thickly
around the hospital； it was impossible to secure proper ventilation or to
maintain the necessary police。 The Federal prisoners also made frequent
forays upon the hospital stores and carried off the food and clothing of
the sick。 The hospital was； on the 22d of May； removed to its present
site without the Stockade； and five acres of ground covered with oaks and
pines appropriated to the use of the sick。
The supply of medical officers has been insufficient from the foundation
of the prison。
The nurses and attendants upon the sick have been most generally Federal
prisoners； who in too many cases appear to have been devoid of moral
principle； and who not only neglected their duties； but were also engaged
in extensive robbing of the sick。
From the want of proper police and hygienic regulations alone it is not
wonderful that from February 24 to September 21； 1864； nine thousand four
hundred and seventy…nine deaths； nearly one…third the entire number of
prisoners； should have been recorded。 I found the Stockade and hospital
in the following condition during my pathological investigations；
instituted in the month of September； 1864：
STOCKADE； CONFEDERATE STATES MILITARY PRISON。
At the time of my visit to Andersonville a large number of Federal
prisoners had been removed to Millen； Savannah； Charleston； and other
parts of； the Confederacy； in anticipation of an advance of General
Sherman's forces from Atlanta； with the design of liberating their
c