University of North Carolina
Documenting the South: Report on the Condition and Treatment of Prisoners of War
The official report by a joint select committee of the Congress of the Confederate States of America investigating the treatment of prisoners of war in Confederate prisons. An interesting look at a primary source document reflecting the...
Civil War Home
Home of the American Civil War: Elmira Prison
Read about the horrible conditions at Elmira Prison in New York. Find out how many Confederate prisoners it held and what diseases they suffered from. From "The Historical Times Encyclopedia of the Civil War ."
Civil War Home
Home of the American Civil War: The Inhumanities of War
An essay from "The Confederate Military History, Vol. 1" which explains why prisons for prisoners of war were constructed after the failure of the prisoner exchange program in 1863.
Georgia Humanities Council and the University of Georgia Press.
New Georgia Encyclopedia: History and Archaeology: Andersonville Prison
Andersonville Prison was created in February, 1864 to relieve the overcrowding of Union prisoners in other nearby prisons. It closed a year later due to sanitation problems among others and had earned a reputation for inflicting...
Other
Institute for Historical Review: The Civil War Concentration Camps
In an article which examines the prisons of both the North and the South, Mark Weber explains the problems both sides encountered when dealing with prisoners of war and explores myths and truths surrounding the treatment of prisoners of...
Other
Maryland Department of Natural Resources: Point Lookout State Park History
A brief description of the prisoner-of-war camp at Point Lookout, Maryland.
Archaeological Institute of America
Archaeology: Doing Time
A brief description of Johnson's Island Prison followed by links to correspondence of the prisoners, a map of the prison, and information about a current archaeological dig at the site.
Other
Chemung County History: Elmira Prison Camp
A brief look at the Federal prison at Elmira, New York. As more information has surfaced about this prison, the reality of the treatment of the Confederate prisoners of war has become more clear.
Other
Images of the Civil War: Prisoners and Prisons
Photos and brief descriptions of prison and prisoner scenes from the Civil War.
Curated OER
National Park Service: Andersonville National Historic Site
The official website of Andersonville National Historic Site, or Camp Sumter, "One of the largest of many Confederate military prisons." This park serves to honor all American prisoners of war. Be sure to click on Teaching with Historic...
Library of Congress
Loc: America's Story: Henry Wirz
From the Library of Congress comes the story of the hanging of Henry Wirz, former commander of the terrible Confederate prison in Andersonville, GA.