Customer center

We are a boutique essay service, not a mass production custom writing factory. Let us create a perfect paper for you today!

Example research essay topic: Civil War Poor Conditions - 1,134 words

NOTE: Free essay sample provided on this page should be used for references or sample purposes only. The sample essay is available to anyone, so any direct quoting without mentioning the source will be considered plagiarism by schools, colleges and universities that use plagiarism detection software. To get a completely brand-new, plagiarism-free essay, please use our essay writing service.
One click instant price quote

... use much suffering was made by Hoffman. He wrote to the Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton, stating that Elmira could hold 10, 000 prisoners transferred from other camps. Lt. Colonel Frederick Eastman was put in charge of Elmira prison. Also, another mistake by Hoffman, a letter from Hoffman to Eastman stated that only Barracks number three should be used as a prison camp.

It also stated the specifics for the fence. Furthermore it said that 8, 000 or 10, 000 men could arrive shortly. The barracks were 100 ft. long and 16 ft. wide supposedly in excellent condition.

There were 35 barracks to hold 4, 000 men which were originally made to hold 3, 000 men. The tents and hospital tents could hold 1, 000 more men and the bakery could hold another 5, 000 men. In June, Elmira was ready and Major H. V. Colt was put in as Governor of the camp. In July the first 399 prisoners arrived, one escaped on the way to Elmira.

By the end of July, 4, 724 prisoners arrived and tents were already being used. By August, all the tents had been used up and more were sent in, though not enough. Many prisoners slept outside without even a blanket. Every morning there was a roll call and the tents were struck to keep count. Due to lack of preparedness or miscommunication severe overcrowding was a problem until March when a 3, 009 men prisoner exchange took place. There were still bad conditions though and winter would be worse.

Prisoners were underfed and open to disease because of this and overcrowding. To prevent scurvy from the camps meager rations, men had to buy vegetables from local townsmen. This privilege was taken away when Hoffman ordered bread and water rations for retaliation of Northern prisoners treatment in the South. Meat and vegetables were not even in the menu therefore an epidemic of scurvy came about. Hunger was such a problem that prisoners surrounded the bone cart begging for scraps that were probably laying in the sun for several days. Men kept bones in their bunk to gnaw and suck on.

Men ate trampled apple peelings. A more desperate way to find food was to make use of the large rat population at Fosters Pond. Rats were used as food and money. The worst case of desperation in finding food at Elmira was the case when prisoners killed a small dog, hid it in their bunk, and waited until dark to eat the roasted dog.

The Union officially said that these problems resulted from lack of appetite because of homesickness and slightly inferior quality of food owing to the severe drought of the year. The drought did explain some of it, but basically the prisoners were just not fed enough, and ate poor food. The hot temperature and the drought made many prisoners want to buy food, but vendors were not allowed to sell as order of Hoffman. The winter soon came and the Confederates were not used to the cold weather. They had scanty clothes and further clothing sent by families was not allowed to be given to prisoners until approved by the government.

When the clothes were approved, only the gray clothes could be used and the blue clothes were burned. The Southerners were able to purchase clothing whereas the Northerners in the South werent able to buy clothing and were being treated harshly. Therefore, only the poorest quality of clothing and blankets were given out, and only when necessary. Many attempts were made to give clothes to prisoners but they were all rejected. The barracks were now also in bad shape. Many froze to death, especially in the tents.

Stoves were issued to Elmira and two rations of wood were given each day. Hoffman began to give in. The proceeds from a cotton sale went to buy clothing for prisoners, and did bring some relief. This harsh winter caused many people to die, but more problems were still to come.

In the spring, heavy rains made the Chemung River overflow. The men had to move around constantly to avoid the rising waters. A train accident also killed many prisoners on the way to Elmira. Fosters Pond was a great source of disease, and drainage ditches were denied.

When the ditches were finally built, many prisoners had already died from disease. Hoffman sent the physically unfit to Washington for a prisoner exchange. 1, 200 men were sent but 105 men either died, were turned back because they were unfit for the journey, or were dying. 36 % of Elmira's prisoners would die in less than a year because of the poor conditions which caused smallpox, scurvy, diarrhea, and pneumonia. The many sicknesses led to the need for a good medical staff. However, there was none. The mens needs were denied. Medicines were not given, they were sold.

Amateur doctors used Elmira just for experience, and later moved on. Because of amateurism, incorrect treatment killed some prisoners. One case was too much arsenic, which can be poisonous. The physician and chief surgeon E. L. Sanger resigned because he knew that he would be court-marshaled if he didnt.

The sick were mostly put in tents, but a few of the worst cases were put in barracks. This made the others around them sick also. Punishment was also a concern at Elmira. The punishment was made by the guard or officer who witnessed the crime. The most common punishment was the barrel shirt with the crime written on it.

Another punishment was the sweatbox, which was very small and hot. Prisoners got no food, water, or ventilation when inside it. Bucking and gagging was another punishment. There was no deadline like Andersonville, and no deaths could be attributed to discipline.

Many deaths could be attributed to Hoffman because of his feelings of the wars psychology and retaliation for the Souths treatment of the Northern prisoners. Out of 12, 123 prisoners in Elmira, 2, 963 died. The death rate was 25 %, whereas other camps death rates in the North were around 11. 7 %. Andersonville's death rate was only 2 % higher at 27 %.

Both camps were places of very poor conditions and much suffering which could have been stopped, if not for Hoffmann and With. That is why they were both truly Hell on Earth and Elmira is known as Elmira. Bibliography: Bibliography Magazines 1) Andersonville remembers Americas POWs Civil War Times, April 1996, p. 18, 20 - 21, 73 - 75 2) Andersonville: the Myth Endures Civil War Times, April 1996, p. 10, 78 3) Northern Hell on Earth Americas Civil War, March 1991, p. 25 - 29 Encyclopedia 1) Civil War. World Book Encyclopedia, 1994, Vol. 4, p. 631 Movie 1) Andersonville. TNT, 1996.


Free research essays on topics related to: april 1996, poor conditions, civil war, 000 men, death rate

Research essay sample on Civil War Poor Conditions

Writing service prices per page

  • $18.85 - in 14 days
  • $19.95 - in 3 days
  • $23.95 - within 48 hours
  • $26.95 - within 24 hours
  • $29.95 - within 12 hours
  • $34.95 - within 6 hours
  • $39.95 - within 3 hours
  • Calculate total price

Our guarantee

  • 100% money back guarantee
  • plagiarism-free authentic works
  • completely confidential service
  • timely revisions until completely satisfied
  • 24/7 customer support
  • payments protected by PayPal

Secure payment

With EssayChief you get

  • Strict plagiarism detection regulations
  • 300+ words per page
  • Times New Roman font 12 pts, double-spaced
  • FREE abstract, outline, bibliography
  • Money back guarantee for missed deadline
  • Round-the-clock customer support
  • Complete anonymity of all our clients
  • Custom essays
  • Writing service

EssayChief can handle your

  • essays, term papers
  • book and movie reports
  • Power Point presentations
  • annotated bibliographies
  • theses, dissertations
  • exam preparations
  • editing and proofreading of your texts
  • academic ghostwriting of any kind

Free essay samples

Browse essays by topic:

Stay with EssayChief! We offer 10% discount to all our return customers. Once you place your order you will receive an email with the password. You can use this password for unlimited period and you can share it with your friends!

Academic ghostwriting

About us

© 2002-2024 EssayChief.com