Watch Civil War Prisons - An American Tragedy

Civil War Prisons - An American Tragedy is a documentary film that explores the horrific conditions of the military prisons during the American Civil War. Directed by Paul Wagner and produced by Florentine Films, the movie offers a grim and heartbreaking portrayal of the inhumane treatment of prisoners by both Union and Confederate authorities.

The movie begins by setting the scene of the Civil War and the conditions under which prisoners of war were kept. It also briefly touches on the reasons why the war erupted and how the conflict escalated, eventually leading to the establishment of several prison camps.

The first half of the documentary focuses on the Union prisons, which were notoriously overcrowded, disease-ridden, and lacked basic amenities like food, water, and shelter. The film details the story of Camp Douglas in Chicago, where prisoners were kept in sheer agony, subject to abuse and neglect by their captors. We see how the prisoners, often already weakened by injuries and malnutrition, were subject to brutal treatment by the guards and were crammed into tiny cells meant for far fewer people. The footage of skeletal men lying in the dirt, scavenging for food, and shivering in the cold is a stark reminder of the deep divisions and human cost of the war. One sequence shows how the prisoners tried to pass the time by playing games, writing diaries, and even putting on plays, which provides an insight into the resilience of the human spirit under unimaginable conditions.

The documentary switches gears halfway to focus on the Confederate prison camps, of which Andersonville in Georgia is the best-known example. We learn about how the Confederate government, faced with its own logistical challenges, was forced to cram thousands of prisoners into an already overcrowded facility. With no running water or sanitation, and with meager rations, the camp quickly became a death trap. The film shows footage of the camp once it had become a horror show of filth, disease, and famine. We see how the prisoners were subjected to scurvy, dysentery, and exposure, and how death was an ever-present reality. The movie also reveals that Confederate soldiers who were charged with running the camps were often inefficient, corrupt, or simply had lost control of the situation. The documentary is emotionally powerful and forces viewers into a place of contemplation about the atrocities that humanity is capable of inflicting upon itself.

The final third of the documentary discusses the aftermath of the Civil War, the trials of the prison camp commandants, and the lessons learned from the tragedy of the war. The movie also touches on how prisoners were buried and how their bodies were unceremoniously dumped into mass graves with no markers or headstones. We hear from descendants of prisoners who were eventually released, who recount the stories of their ancestors, regaling us with tales of the bravery and resilience of the prisoners.

The documentary also reflects on how the effects of the war were long-lasting, and how it was a turning point in American history. It points out that the conflict paved the way for some life-changing civil rights advances, with former slaves becoming citizens and receiving voting rights. The final shots are of the sites where the prison camps once stood, now largely forgotten, and how the past has impacted the present.

Civil War Prisons - An American Tragedy is an expertly crafted documentary that reminds us of the best and worst of humanity. It forces us to confront the brutal realities of war, and the inauspicious capacity humankind has for cruelty, as well as the resilience of the human spirit to survive it. By delving into the nitty-gritty of the prison camps, the film achieves a lasting resonance with the audience, lingering long after it has ended. It's a narrative that deserves to be told, and this documentary does it with honesty, compassion, and respect. Whether you're a student of history or just someone with an interest in exploring the roots of America's psyche, Civil War Prisons - An American Tragedy is a must-watch.

Civil War Prisons - An American Tragedy is a 2017 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 17 minutes.