Andersonville Prison is now a National Historic site located at 496 Cemetery Road in Andersonville, Georgia. Andersonville National Historic site is located 10 miles north of Americus, GA just off GA Route 49. The site includes a picnic area, National Prisoner of War Museum, Andersonville National Cemetery, and The Prison Site. The park grounds are open daily from 8:00 am until 5:00 pm.
In February of 1864 the first Union prisoners arrived at the newly constructed Andersonville Prison. The prisons wall was a simple stockade fence of fallen trees stalked one on top of the other and encompassed 16 acres of barren land.
The first prisoners built huts out of scrap wood from the stockade and later prisoners were left to dig holes to escape the brutal Georgia summer heat. By July of 1864 the prison population had risen to over 30,000 Union soldiers. Food was scarce and eventually rations were not given on a daily basis.
The captain of the prison, Henry Wirz was hated by prisoners and subordinates alike because of his brutality. Many prisoners were left to be murdered by guards and other prisoners. A "deadline" was established inside of the stockade fence. Any prisoner who touched or crossed this line was shot without warning.
Groups of prisoners referred to as "raiders" formed lawless mobs that robbed, beat, and killed as they saw fit. Eventually the other prisoners banded together and brought the "raiders" to trial. Several of the "raiders" were hung and a few more were beaten to death by other prisoners. Thousands of other prisoners died from the lack of shelter and food. Most of these men died from smallpox, typhoid, scurvy, and diarrhea.
At the end of the war Captain Wirz was arrested and was charged with misconduct against Union prisoners. Many people including Captain Wirz believed that he was being used as a scapegoat and was not responsible for the Confederacies inability to care for its prisoners. Captain Wirz was executed for the role he played at Andersonville Prison.
Since the end of the war, many paranormal activities have taken place in and around the site of the former prison. The sounds of moans and groans and marching feet are still heard today. Apparitions of soldiers on the prison grounds have also been seen as well as the sounds of gunfire heard after dark.
Local legend places blame for most of the hauntings on the "raiders". These people claim that the "raiders" are still "at work" attempting to control those who dare to visit the prison grounds. Other people believe that Captain Wirz is to blame for some of the activity around the prison. They say he can not rest because he was falsely accused and executed at the wars end. Or could it be one or more of the prisoners who were murdered by the "raiders" or who died while incarcerated in the hell hole of Andersonville Prison. Who ever is haunting the prison grounds today doesn't appear to be leaving anytime soon.
