This fascinating scene shows the Andersonville prison stockade and hospital located in Sumpter County, Georgia. Originally designed to hold 10,000 men, the site quickly became overcrowded and contained over 33,000 prisoners at one point. The overcrowding resulted in prisoners suffering from hunger, disease, medical shortages, and exposure. What makes this view especially powerful is that the graphic images of the prisoners are numbered with a legend along the bottom and sides of the sheet with the name of each soldier and what happened to him at the prison (and where he resides if he survived).

The lithograph was based upon a sketch drawn by one of the prisoners at the camp, as explained under the title: "The only true and Correct Picture of that Horrible Slaughter Pen, copied from the original Pencil Sketch, made by Felix La Baume, late Sergeant of Co. "E", 39th Regt. N.Y. Vola., who was a prisoner of war at Andersonville from July 9, 1864, to April 19, 1865." La Baume later was the principle government witness against Major Henry Wurz, commander of the Andersonville prison stockade, during his trial on various charges for which he was found guilty and executed. This is a rare example that reflects the North's sentiment of the atrocities that occurred to Union soldiers during the Civil War. Lithographed by John W. January.

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Condition: B

Toned with some brown spots near the top neatline and a few edge tears confined to the blank margins.