1. Early Policies: In the early stages of the war, both the Union and the Confederacy adopted policies aimed at providing humane treatment to captured soldiers. The Union issued General Orders No. 100, which outlined guidelines for the treatment of POWs, including access to food, clothing, shelter, and medical care. The Confederacy issued similar regulations.
2. Prison Camps: Over time, as the war escalated and the number of POWs increased, both sides established prison camps. Some camps, like Camp Douglas in Illinois and Libby Prison in Virginia, became infamous for their poor conditions, overcrowding, and lack of sanitation, which contributed to high rates of disease and death among prisoners.
3. Exchange of Prisoners: Throughout the war, prisoner exchanges were negotiated between the Union and the Confederacy to release captured soldiers. These agreements varied in success and were sometimes hampered by disagreements and retaliatory actions.
4. Mistreatment and Abuse: There were numerous cases of mistreatment and abuse of POWs by both sides. This included instances of withholding food and medical care, physical violence, torture, and execution.
5. Conditions in Northern and Southern Prisons: The conditions in Northern and Southern prisons varied. Generally, Union prisons tended to be better managed and provided better care for prisoners compared to Confederate prisons, which often faced severe shortages of resources and medical personnel.
6. Private and Guerrilla Warfare: In addition to the treatment of POWs, the Civil War also involved private and guerrilla warfare, where non-combatants and enemy civilians were targeted and mistreated.
7. End of the War: Towards the end of the war, efforts were made to improve the treatment of POWs. The Union and the Confederacy agreed on the "Dix-Hill Cartel" in 1862, which aimed to establish a more structured system for prisoner exchange.
8. Legacy and Impact: The treatment of prisoners of war during the Civil War left a lasting legacy and had a profound impact on the development of international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions.
In summary, the treatment of prisoners during the Civil War was multifaceted, ranging from humane and compassionate behavior to instances of serious mistreatment and neglect. The challenges of managing large numbers of prisoners in a time of intense conflict contributed to the difficulties faced by both the Union and the Confederacy.