Elmira Prison Camp

Rows of tents and large numbers of Confederate prisoners can be seen behind a stockade surrounding a prisoner-of-war camp in Elmira, New York, in the summer of 1864. The photographer positioned himself on a nearby platform built by a pair of entrepreneurs who charged curiosity-seekers ten cents to get a peek at the enemy. The prison camp opened in July 1864 and eventually held more than 12,000 prisoners; nearly 3,000 of them died of sickness, exposure, or other causes before the prison closed in July 1865.