Elmira Prison Camp, located in the town of Elmira, New York, was established in July 1864 to hold Confederate prisoners. Over the course of its operation, the camp housed an estimated 12,000 to 15,000 prisoners. The conditions at Elmira were extremely harsh, with overcrowding, poor sanitation, inadequate food, and limited shelter. As a result, an estimated 2,500 to 3,000 prisoners died during their time at Elmira, making it one of the deadliest POW camps of the Civil War.
Andersonville Prison Camp, located in Sumter County, Georgia, was established in February 1864 and became the largest Confederate POW camp during the war. It held an estimated 45,000 Union soldiers, many of whom were captured during the Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863. The conditions at Andersonville were even more dire than those at Elmira, with extreme overcrowding, lack of adequate food and water, and poor medical care. An estimated 13,000 Union soldiers died at Andersonville, making it the deadliest prison camp of the Civil War.
The deplorable conditions and high mortality rates at these camps drew widespread criticism and outrage from both sides of the conflict. The experiences of Union and Confederate prisoners at Elmira and Andersonville highlighted the need for better treatment of prisoners and led to calls for reforms in the POW camp system.