Andersonville Prison Camp

Andersonville, or Camp Sumter, as the Union called it, was a gruesome place. It was a prison camp run by the dreaded Henry Wirz. Wirz was a man who did not care about the way his prisoners had to live, and eventually was executed due to inhumane treatment of war prisoners. The prisoners had a town system, with little shacks called shebangs that were built out of anything available to the occupants of the prison. People sold anything they could, such as parts of their food rations, or tobacco. There was no sanitation, and the prisoners tried their best to wash themselves with sand. The bodies of dead and dying men were littered about, picked up by a wagon every morning. The very same wagon would bring back the bread for the prisoners, which was their only food other than small rations of uncooked beans or meat. Many people in Andersonville were desperate for a better lifestyle, and would go crazy waiting to get wood (to make a fire with) and take clothes off of dead men, either to make their shebangs warmer or to wear them themselves. Prisoners would have almost no chance of escape, as the guards were very smart and knew the tactics prisoners would use to attempt and escape.
Some healthy prisoners would help the dying ones.
Image from: http://www.nps.gov/ande/forteachers/classrooms/lp-medicalwebquest.htm

William Sherman's Atlanta Campaign and March to the Sea

The city of Atlanta was a major source of pride for the Confederacy, as it had risen up so quickly to become such a populous city. This was one reason General William Sherman decided to go on a raid through Atlanta, the other being that taking over a southern city would give Lincoln the support he needed to win the election of 1860. It was crucial Lincoln was reelected, as the other candidate, George McClellan had very different views on how to fight the war. After having retreated to Chattanooga at the Battle of Chickmauga, Sherman marched his troops into Atlanta, and caused chaos. Because the mayor refused to surrender, Sherman ordered all citizens to evacuate, and used homes and stores as barracks and supply hubs. After his troops got carried away and burned much of Atlanta, Sherman resided in Atlanta for two months. Once this waiting period was over, he went on a terrorizing march towards the coast, destroying anything in his path. His strategy, also known as "total war," was to wear down the Georgians so much that they would just give him their towns and hope the war would end. When Sherman met former slaves, even though he thought they were inferior, he would invite them on the march, and treat them with respect.

Sherman and his troops burned about 30% of Atlanta.

William Sherman marched through Georgia, causing utter destruction anywhere he went.

Activity in Georgia (The Battle of Chickmauga, Chattanooga, and the Blockade of GA's coast)

Throughout the Civil War, activity in Georgia was very minor, up until the Battle of Chickmauga. The Confederate and Union Troops met at Chickmauga. Before this, the Union had been staying in Chattanooga, so that was where the temporary barracks and supplies were. Chickmauga was a big deal for Georgia, as it was the first major battle fought here. Soon, it became clear that the Union troops were being beaten by the Confederate ones. The federals issued a retreat, but unlike the retreat at Bull Run, this one was orderly and calm. A brave soldier, General Thomas of the Union troops, stood his ground and defended the retreating troops. This earned him the nickname "The Rock of Chickmauga." The troops came back to Chattanooga, and were trapped in the city for a while. After Ulysses S. Grant (the new union general) opened a supply line, the troops, even having lost 16,000 men, the Union troops continued on to Atlanta, which would become the Atlanta Campaign. Meanwhile, the Union was blockading the entire coast of Georgia, very tightly. The purpose of this was to deplete the Confederacies supply of exports and imports, while the Union holding Chattanooga created a good supply hub for Lincoln.
















Union troops were losing, and had to retreat back to Chattanooga.
Image From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Chickamauga


Union ships formed a blockade all along GA's coast.
Image From: http://www.civilwaracademy.com/civil-war-ships.html