Iowa Files: Iowans in Andersonville Prison

214 Billy Yanks from Iowa were Starved, Fevered or Shot to Death At Andersonville Prison Camp by Johnny Reb in 1864-1865. Andersonville Prison (also known as Camp Sumter), was a Confederate prisoner-of-war camp during the final fourteen months of the American Civil War. The prison was overcrowded to four times its capacity, and had an inadequate water supply, inadequate food, and unsanitary conditions. Of the approximately 45,000 Union prisoners held at Camp Sumter during the war, nearly 13,000 (28%) died.

Historian, teacher and all around fascinating storyteller Kent Halstad will share the stories of the Iowans who experienced Andersonville. 

This joint library-Historical Society event is free and open to the public thanks to the support of West Des Moines Historical Society Members and the West Des Moines Library Friends Foundation. 

All Iowa Files programs will be live streamed on the West Des Moines Historical Society’s Facebook Page and all videos will be closed captioned. They will also be uploaded to their YouTube channel after the event takes place.