The Horrors of Andersonville

April 1, 2010
Gr 5 Up-To tell the story of the notorious Civil War prison, the author relies upon memoirs of soldiers who survived the camp; government documents, including the Official Records of the War of the Rebellion; and contemporary newspapers and periodicals. A history of the camp's origins is followed by an engrossing story of deterioration and despair not only for the Union soldiers housed within Andersonville's walls, but also for the Confederacy. The author focuses on six Union soldiers, including John McElroy, who was 16 when he enlisted in the Illinois Cavalry in 1862 and spent 14 months at the prison and later wrote a memoir. Others include James Madison Page, who wrote a book about Henry Wirz, commandant at Andersonville and the only Confederate officer hanged for war crimes, and John Ransom, who kept a detailed diary of his experiences. Along with Wirz, two other Confederate officers played a part in this story as well as three individuals who were associated with Wirz's trial. Combined with photographs and illustrations, the firsthand accounts and quotations make a compelling, interesting book. Numerous sidebars offer intriguing stories about hospital gangrene and surgical fevers, distribution of rations, escape attempts, and cleanliness issues such as lice. A welcome addition for all Civil War collections."Patricia Ann Owens, Wabash Valley College, Mt. Carmel, IL"

Copyright 2010 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2010
Grades 9-12 This well-researched book describes the notorious Confederate prison camp known as Andersonville, where more than 45,000 Union soldiers lived in deplorable conditions and some 13,000 died, beginning in 1864. After opening with an annotated Cast of Characters and a prologue introducing two prisoners who later published accounts of their time at Andersonville, Gourley offers a chronological account of the prisons troubling history, providing details about such matters as the choice of an unsuitable site; the crowded, unsanitary, and inhumane conditions in the camp; and the controversial postwar trial in which the prisons commandant was tried and executed. The book concludes with an epilogue, an extended Cast of Characters Revisited, source notes, an extensive selected bibliography, and lists of recommended books, films, and Web sites. Illustrated with many captioned photos and prints and enlivened with quotes from firsthand accounts, this book provides a balanced, informative introduction to Andersonville.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)