A while back after I first joined this list (about two weeks ago) I asked if there was a list of prisioners so I could find out if my relative was a prisioner there. Some wrote back that there was a list of those who died there but no one seemed to know if there existed a general list of internees. I sometimes employ a researcher in Washington who does lookups for me, so I asked him the same question. Today he sent in the mail the following pamplet. I do not think it is copywrited for it is a govenment publication. If anyone would like the name of this guy, (his costs are extremely reasonable and he is quick and thorough) I will be glad to give it anyone off list. I am sending this in pieces for when I tried to send it yesterday, it didn't get through, perhaps it was too big? There may be a few typos for I scanned and OCRed it: SELECTED RECORDS OF THE WAR DEPARTMENT COMMISSARY GENERAL OF PRISONERS RELATING TO FEDERAL PRISONERS OF WAR CONFINED AT ANDERSONVILLE, GEORGIA, 1864-65 On the six rolls of this microfilm publication, M1303, are reproduced registers, lists, returns, reports, and indexes relating to Federal prisoners of war confined by Confederate authorities in the prison at Camp Sumter, Andersonville, GA, February 1864-April 1865. More specifically, these records include a register of departures of Federal prisoners of war from Andersonville, two registers (original and copy) of admittances to the prison hospital, a register of Federal prisoners confined at the prison hospital, two registers (original and copy) of Federal prisoners' deaths and burials, six burial lists of Federal prisoners, and two lists of Federal prisoners claiming reimbursement for money taken from them by Confederate prison officials. The records also include two series of consolidated monthly strength reports (original and copy) of Federal prisoners held at Andersonville, a series of provision returns of the prison hospital, a name index to the original hospital register of admittances, and a partial name index to one of the burial lists. Except for those burial lists of Federal prisoners which were compiled by Union soldiers at Andersonville, the records were either created by Confederate authorities at Andersow,ille or after the Civil War by War Department clerks in Washington, DC. These records are part of the Records of the Commissary General of Prisoners, Record Group (RG) 249. Background Located a few miles northeast of Americus in south-central Georgia, Andersonville, the largest of the many Confederate military prisons established during the Civil War, was part of the cantonment at Camp Sumter, Georgia. The prison was built in early 1864 after Confederate officials decided to move the large number of Federal prisoners held in and around Richmond to a place of greater security and more abundant food. During the 14 months the prison existed, more than 45,000 Union soldiers were confined there. Of these, almost 13,000 died from disease, poor sanitation, malnutrition, overcrowding, or exposure to the elements. The Andersonville prison pen initially covered about 16 1/2 acres of land enclosed by a 15-foot-high stockade of hewed pine logs. It was enlarged to 26 1/2 acres in June 1864. The prison proper was in the shape of a parallelogram 1,620 feet long and 779 feet wide. Sentry boxes, or "pigeon-roosts" as the prisoners called them, stood at 30-yard intervals along the top of the stockade. Inside, about 19 feet from the wall, was the "deadline," which the prisoners were forbidden to cross upon threat of death. Two entrances, the North Gate and the South Gate, were on the west side of the stockade. Eight small earthen forts located around the exterior of the prison were eguipped with artillery to put down disturbances within the compound and to defend against feared Union cavalry attacks. In late February 1864 the Confederate War Department selected Col. Alexander W. Persons to command Camp Sumter; Brig. Gen. John Winder succeeded Persons in June 1864 and held the position during the terrible summer months. In October Col. George C. Gibbs replaced General Winder and remained commanding officer of Camp Sumter until the spring of 1865. The difficult position of commandant of the prison itself, by far the most important component of Camp Sumter, fell to Capt. Henry Wirz, formerly of the 4th Louisiana Infantry, who arrived in late March 1864. To assist Wirz in maintaining order at the prison was a large guard made up of troops of the 55th, 56th, and 57th Georgia Infantry; lst-4th Georgia Reserve Regiments; 26th Alabama Infantry; and the Leon Florida Artillery. The size of this Confederate guard fluctuated; during August 1864 it had a mean strength of 3,755. The first prisoners were brought to Andersonville in February 1864. During the next few months approximately 400 more arrived each day until, by the end of June, some 26,000 men were confined in a prison area originally intended to hold 10,000. The largest number held at any one time (in August 1864) was more than 32,000. The Confederate authorities organized the Federal prisoners into squads of 270 and divided each squad into three messes of 90 men each for the purpose of receiving rations. The prisoners split themselves into smaller messes of 12, 16, or 20 to achieve a better distribution of rations. Handicapped by deteriorating economic conditions, an inadequate transportation system, and the need to concentrate all available resources on its army, the Confederate Government was unable to provide adequate housing, food, clothing, and medical care to their Federal captives. These conditions, along with a breakdown of the prisoner exchange system, created much suffering and a high mortality rate. When Gem. William T. Sherman's Union forces occupied Atlanta on September 2, 1864, bringing Federal cavalry columns within easy striking distance of Andersonville, Confederate authorities moved most of the prisoners to other camps in South Carolina and coastal Georgia. From October 1864 until April 1865, Andersonville was operated on a smaller basis. Andersonville prison ceased to exist in April-May 1865. When the war ended Captain Wirz was arrested and charged with conspiring with high Confederate officials to "impair and injure the health and destroy the lives . . . of Federal prisoners" and "murder, in violation of the laws of war." Although it is unlikely that such a conspiracy existed, public anger and indignation throughout the North over the conditions at Andersonville demanded appeasement. Tried and found guilty by a military tribunal, Wirz was hanged in Washington, DC, on November 10, 1865. end of part one

I'm not sure if they have guided tours or not. I believe the admission fee is like that for a national park but can't remember for certain. We saw the film first and picked up a brochure and went on our own. I highly recommend a trip there. It's very educational and very interesting. Some of the statistics are almost unimaginable. -----Original Message----- From: John & Robin <myimzadi@bellsouth.net> To: ANDERSONVILLE-L@rootsweb.com <ANDERSONVILLE-L@rootsweb.com> Date: Wednesday, January 20, 1999 9:03 AM Subject: tours >Does anyone know if there are guided tours for the Andersonville Prison? >If so do you have any information on the tour schedule and admission fee? > >thanks > >Robin C >"Cry havoc! And let slip the Chihuahuas of War!"

ANDERSONVILLE-D-request@rootsweb.com wrote: > > Subject: > > ANDERSONVILLE-D Digest Volume 99 : Issue 6 > > Today's Topics: > #1 Re: ANDERSONVILLE-D Digest V99 #5 [SKin129427@aol.com] > #2 tours [John & Robin <myimzadi@bellsouth.n] > #3 Unidentified subject! ["Daniel Kelley" <dankell@hom.net>] > > Administrivia: > To unsubscribe from ANDERSONVILLE-D, send a message to > > ANDERSONVILLE-D-request@rootsweb.com > > that contains in the body of the message the command > > unsubscribe > > and no other text. No subject line is necessary, but if your software > requires one, just use unsubscribe in the subject, too. > > ______________________________ > > --------------------------------------------------------------- > > Subject: Re: ANDERSONVILLE-D Digest V99 #5 > Date: Wed, 20 Jan 1999 07:52:16 EST > From: SKin129427@aol.com > To: ANDERSONVILLE-L@rootsweb.com > > I would like to have the poem that you mentioned. Thank you very much. > > Sue K > Mt. Vernon, Washington > Skin129427@aol.com > > ______________________________ > > --------------------------------------------------------------- > > Subject: tours > Date: Wed, 20 Jan 1999 10:02:49 -0500 > From: John & Robin <myimzadi@bellsouth.net> > To: ANDERSONVILLE-L@rootsweb.com > > Does anyone know if there are guided tours for the Andersonville Prison? > If so do you have any information on the tour schedule and admission fee? > > thanks > > Robin C > "Cry havoc! And let slip the Chihuahuas of War!" > > ______________________________ > > --------------------------------------------------------------- > > Subject: Unidentified subject! > Date: Wed, 20 Jan 1999 22:10:33 -0500 > From: "Daniel Kelley" <dankell@hom.net> > To: ANDERSONVILLE-L@rootsweb.com > > In response to the question asked about guided tours: yes they offer ranger > guided and cassete guided tours--there is no fee to visit the park. > > For more info, see http://www.nps.gov/ande/ > > Daniel Kelley > Phi Alpha Theta > GC&SU History Major > www.gcsu.edu > > "An understanding of the past is crucial in understanding the present."

In response to the question asked about guided tours: yes they offer ranger guided and cassete guided tours--there is no fee to visit the park. For more info, see http://www.nps.gov/ande/ Daniel Kelley Phi Alpha Theta GC&SU History Major www.gcsu.edu "An understanding of the past is crucial in understanding the present."

Does anyone know if there are guided tours for the Andersonville Prison? If so do you have any information on the tour schedule and admission fee? thanks Robin C "Cry havoc! And let slip the Chihuahuas of War!"

I would like to have the poem that you mentioned. Thank you very much. Sue K Mt. Vernon, Washington Skin129427@aol.com

*PLANTING THE FLAG AT ANDERSONVILLE By Mrs. Annie Wittenmyer. We Lift up the banner of freedom today, And let the world know that due honor we pay To Liberty's martyrs, who starved for the right, And crown them as heroes, who fell in the fight. Their chalice of woe was filled up to the brim; They drank to the dregs with high courage and vim, Nor faltered, nor wavered, but loyal and true Stood firm by their colors, the red, white and bluel The earth was their pillow, theircovering the sky; And thousands lay down on the bare ground to die; No artist can paint, no pen tell the story Of all they endured for love of "Old Glory". The Lord, in compassion, took note of heir greif ANd came, in His Majesty, to their relief; He rode on the wind, where swift lightning played, And hallowed the ground where the prisoners laid. They panted with thirst, ere the Presence passed by, But flashes of glory lit up the sky; A thunder bolt fell, with omnipotent ring, **And opened the fountain of Providence Spring. And Peace came at last, Oh! for thousands too late; We mourn, as a people, their pitiful fate, And hold the ground sacred, our care and our pride. And plant the Flag over the place where theu died. But the Nation is saved! They died not in vain; Our people are all re-united again, From ocean to ocean - the lakes to the sea - One country, one people, one flag for the free. * At Andersonville the Stars and Stripes float every day from a pole one hundred and sixteen feet high. ** Providence Spring broke out after a thunderstorm in August, 1864. Andersonville and the graveyard is now taken care of by the Women's Relief Corps, and is now enclosed by a high wire fence. Over Providence Spring ther has been built a Granite Pavilion, inside of which there has been erected by the Ex-prisoner's of War Association, a marble fountain from which the water flows strong and sweet with a never ceasing stream into a marble basin. It is said to be the best water in all Georgia.

I have copied the poem before for an individual. If any would be interested, I could do it again for this group. The poem was found at the end of an article about my ancestor; Andrew Ulven, who is buried there. Sue Schweim

Hello, I'm working on our Coates family line and we have a great grandpa Cooper, who was a prisoner at Andersonville and (per family story) escaped in a laundry wagon. Does anyone on this list know of a Cooper POW /escapee? would appreciate any and all leads to grandpa Cooper. Sara

I have just added approximately 30 links to the Brothers Bound webpage for those of us who are researching CW Prisoners of War and the camps they were imprisoned in...that's approximately 65 more links than the original page, so if you haven't checked it out in the last three weeks, it might be worth looking at again. And as always, if you know of some links or have some information you would like put on the page, just drop me a line! Brothers Bound: A Source Page for CW Era Prisoners of War http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~south1/bound.htm Sue morgana@ghg.net

How does one go about finding records for a family member believed to have been a prisoner at Andersonville? The name is either WILLIAM MERCER, born 1831, Belmont Co., Oh, or his brother, THOMAS J. MERCER, B. 1833, Belmont Co. Ohio. I am new both to this search and the site.and need guidance. Much thanks for any help. Patty Mercer ( pam2570@aol.com )

Good Day sir or madam: How would I be able to attain a burial list of Union soldiers at Andersonville Prison. My great, great grandfather George R. Tucker died there. I would appreciate any information you could pass this way. My e-mail address is: djohn58844@aol.com. My grandfather enlisted on 04/25/1861 at the age of 18 with the Mass. infantry (I think). He died at Andersonville prison. Thank-you for your time. David W Johnson

Hello, Great-grandpa was not very forthcoming about people in his diary but he does mention a few. Maybe this will help someone. Lt. Col. NEFF(verification of rank) Captains ELLIS and GORDON in a contest for Major. General MANSON General WILLICH Elias D. WORK (wounded) D. M. OSBORN (wounded) Henry BAUSMAN (wounded) Henry BAKER (killed) Captain MANGER/MANZER Rueben WILSON Lou KILGARN/KILGAR J. B. COLE Captain CASTER (40th Indiana Co. D.) Captain WIRZ (C.S.A.) DELANEY (executed Union soldier) MOSBY (executed Union soldier) Colonel LANZ Colonel UPDIKE FULLER BOWERS HAFFER Sammy WEBB Joseph H. MANARY Joseph L. ASHBY Bald ELLIS Colonel J. W. BLAKE Noble CHARLES Captain SPIKES (read extracts from his journal concerning a trip to Africa) Ordinance Sargeant GOLDBERG If any of these people are familiar I will be happy to send the extract from the diary where they are mentioned. Maureen Johnson

Hello, I received notification that I have been added to this list but have received no mail from it. I do not know how active this list is so have no way of knowing if I have actually been added to the list or not. Could someone enlighten me. Thanks. Maureen Johnson choppy48@gte.net

Can this information be verified here. I have the Pension and also CW records but have now information on burial etc. Joyce Bodley

List: I have never located a list of all those incarcerated at Andersonville. I know that many genealogical libraries have books that list those who died at Andersonville. My grandfather was at Andersonville. To verify this, I wrote to "Friends of Andersonville", Andersonville National Historic Site, Route 1, Box 800, Andersonville, GA 31711. They sent me back a verification of his incarceration, giving a little bit of info. For more data on your ancestor, the military and pension records available from the national archives are invaluable. The pension records give lots of genalogical data, but usually only the military records will reveal any imprisonment. Pat Pulasky

I'm new to the list also and am wondering if there is a list of those who were prisoners at Andersonville. I'm looking for information on David Ball who later lived in Decatur County, Iowa. Thanks for the help. Mary Hart

Hi, I just signed up for the list today. Family tradition states that one member of the family was a prisoner at Andersonville. Is there a list of those who were there? He name was Frank Salfinger or Salfingere. I believe he enlisted from Pennsylvania. Thanks for any help. Will Brown

Looking for any information about Silas Calvin Ramsey. According to a letter from my Grandmother he was a prisoner at Andersonville. Steven A. Braman ancestry@wws.net http://www.wws.net/sbraman/genlink.html

Hello Everyone: Just got on the list and wish to post my first dumb question: GGrandfather was in Company B, 51st Regiment, Infantry, Indiana. Were there men of this company or any part of the regiment in Andersonville? Thank you Gary Clifton