Georgia, Andersonville Prison Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

United States Georgia

What is in the Collection?
The Georgia, Andersonville Prison Records, 1864–1865 collection contains images of records of Federal (Union) prisoners of war confined at Andersonville Prison in Georgia during the last 14 months of the Civil War. The collection consists of prison hospital admissions, death and burial records, registers of prison departures, prisoner claims for reimbursements, and consolidated monthly reports. This collection is part of the National Archives and Records (NARA) microfilm publication M1303 and is from Record Group 249 Records of the Commissary General of Prisoners. The microfilm publication for M1303 can be located and downloaded from the National Archives Microfilm Resources for Research: A Comprehensive Catalog. Microfilm Publication 1303 includes the following NAIDs:

General Information About Andersonville Prison
Andersonville Prison was built at the Confederate garrison of Camp Sumter just outside of Andersonville, Sumter County, Georgia in 1864. Built as a more secure location for Federal prisoners of war located in Richmond, Virginia, Andersonville was the largest Confederate Prisoner of War cam. The prison housed 45,000 prisoners during its 14 months of operation. Andersonville was designed to house a maximum of 10,000 prisoners, but received as many as 400 prisoners a day, housed an average of 22,000–26,000 prisoners, and held 32,000 prisoners during its peak operation of August of 1864.

The location of Andersonville Prison was chosen because it was in an area with a more abundant food supply; however, due to deteriorating war conditions the Confederate army was unable to provide adequate housing, food, clothing, or medical care to the soldiers held captive at Andersonville. Because of deteriorating conditions and a breakdown of the prisoner exchange system, the soldiers at Andersonville endured much suffering, and there was a high mortality rate. Many of the prisoners at Andersonville were moved to other prison camps throughout the South after Sherman’s march through Georgia. Andersonville was closed in April–May of 1865 after General Robert E. Lee surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Courthouse in Virginia.

What Can these Records Tell Me?
The records generally include the following:


 * Name of prisoner
 * Date of entry in the report, list, or ledger
 * Reason for entry in the repost, list, or ledger

Depending on the list, the following information may also be included:


 * Birth date and place
 * Death date and place
 * Burial date and place
 * Cause of death
 * Age
 * Physical description
 * Names of relatives or friends
 * Enlistment date and place
 * Last residence prior to enlistment
 * Monies exchanged
 * Release or transfer date

How Do I Search the Collection?
You can search the index or view the images or both. To begin your search, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of the soldier
 * The date of the event

View the Images
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I Can’t Find Who I’m Looking for, What Now?

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Related Digital Books

 * Iowa Monuments Rolls of Iowa Soldiers Buried at Andersonville
 * FamilySearch Digital Books Pennsylvania at Andersonville
 * FamilySearch Digital Books Report of the Michigan Andersonville Monument Commission

Citing this Collection
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Image Citation

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