This was the most notorious Confederate prison of war camp, from February 1864 to April 1865. Officially named Camp Sumter, it was built to handle 10,000 prisoners, but within months it was holding 45,000 Union soldiers. Nearly 13,000 prisoners died from disease, poor sanitation, malnutrition, overcrowding, or exposure while in custody here, the most deaths at any single site of the entire Civil War. The prison’s commander Captain Henry Wirz was later convicted and executed for war crimes.This lane between the wood railing and the fort wall, 19 feet wide, was deemed “deadline.” Prison guards were allowed to shoot anyone who crossed into the “deadline.”The posts on the left in this picture mark out more of “deadline.” The border marked out the entire post perimeter.Guard tower, called “pigeon roost”. These were placed 30 feet apart around the prison perimeter.This creek supplied water for the prisoners. The latrines were upstream from the drinking area, so it became a cesspool for filth and disease.Area near Providence Spring.Marker at one corner of the prison, with the “deadline” marked by posts.Star Fort area, site of the commander’s quarters.Site of the prison hospital.Another corner of the prison perimeter.
