The Hauntings of the Andersonville Prison in Andersonville, Georgia
In order to appropriately understand the devastation and despair that is often felt by visitors to the area of the Andersonville Prison, as well as that which is often reflected in the paranormal events of the area, it is important to gain a bit of understanding surrounding the living conditions of this military prison. It was an immense land space that was open. Barricades surrounded the area that would ensure that prisoners would not escape the destiny that they had come to know. A man by the name of “Henry Wirz” was named the Captain of the military prison, and was known as an abusive, cold-hearted individual that the prisoners came to hate. Surrounding the prison grounds, he established what he often referred to as the “Dead Line”. Prisoners were warned to stay away, for if they came too close to this area, their lives would immediately be halted due to gunshot. There were several individuals that were given a position of command at Camp Sumter , or “Andersonville Prison”. These were referred to as “Raiders”. Surprisingly, these individuals were not Confederate based officers; they were actually prisoners at the facility. However, they were permitted to bring about a line of destruction by the individuals that were in command at this prison. They would go around the prison at random and physically torture the individuals stationed there due to the local criminal justice system through severe beatings, taking their food and clothing, and in many cases, they outright murdered the other prisoners. Eventually the other prisoners took control of the situation with the Raiders and they were either hung or killed. Today, it is believed that the Raiders are back in the spiritual form, seeking revenge on those that took their lives. Several sicknesses rapidly spread among the prisoners that were held captive at Andersonville Prison. These sicknesses were a direct result of unsanitary conditions, dehydration, malnutrition, physical abuse, insects, and lack of hygiene. It was not at all unusual to discover captives with yellow fever, gastrointestinal complications, smallpox, and even scurvy. As a matter of fact, it was more common to stumble upon sick prisoners than healthy ones. There was little to no shade at the prison.. Many men would dig holes just to experience a small amount of relief from the immense heat. While small tents and small huts were created for shelter, this did very little for protection from the elements. Several men died naturally, others did as a result of abuse and murder…it is believed that several thousand spirits still remain. One of the most interesting stories related to the hauntings of the Andersonville Prison typically occurs in the evening and night hours. Many claim to hear echoes of gun fire and experience feelings of immense fear and devastation. It is not at all unusual for visitors to experience faint whispers, loud cries, and even yelling while exploring the grounds. Many reflect experiencing a smell that is foul and breathtaking. In addition to this, distinct figures have been noted walking in the fog that cascades upon the grounds of the haunted prison site. If you are interested in acquiring a knowledge of haunted places to go, you will likely enjoy experiencing the paranormal phenomena associated with the spirits of the Andersonville Prison. Route 1 Andersonville, GA 912-924-0343 Return To Andersonville Prison Top Of Page
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