In the North, prisoners were generally treated well. They were provided with food, shelter, and medical care. They were also allowed to exercise, read, and write. Some camps even had libraries and schools.
In the South, conditions for prisoners were often much worse. They were often held in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions. They were also given less food and medical care. Many prisoners died from disease, starvation, or exposure.
The difference in treatment between Northern and Southern prisoners was due to a number of factors. The North had more resources than the South, and it was also more committed to the humane treatment of prisoners. The South, on the other hand, was struggling to survive, and it often did not have the resources to provide for its prisoners.
The poor treatment of Southern prisoners also led to a number of reprisals by Northern soldiers. In some cases, Northern soldiers would raid Southern prisons and release the prisoners. In other cases, they would burn down the prisons. These reprisals further inflamed tensions between the North and the South, and they contributed to the overall brutality of the Civil War.