Andersonville: A Story of Rebel Prisons (Volume I and Volume II) by John McElroy - 1897

Washington, DC : The National Tribune, 1897 The National Tribune, Washington, DC. 1897 & 1899. Softcover/Trade Wraps. First Editions. Book 1 is detached from its wrap/Book 2 is attached, Book 2 is square, Book 1 has a factory unattached signature which appears out of square, no markings in either copy. Book Conditions; Book 1 is Good+, Book 2 is Good -; book 1 has the wrap broken away from the text except for the title page which has resulted in a tear to that page; book 2 has a small tear to the title page; both are lightly soiled; both have toned pages. No DJ. Printed alligator grain wraps- titled front; 46-star Old Glory on rear. Wraps are not bent or folded; spine is loose on Vol 1, tight on Vol 2; text is secure in wrap on Vol 2; Text is together in bayonet staples in Vol1. 654 pp (344 in Vol1 and 310 in Vol 2) 8vo. The author was a member of Co. L, 16th Illinois Cavalry and these are his recollections of his time as a prisoner of war at Andersonville Prison Camp in Andersonville Georgia. The prison was created in February 1864 and served to April 1865.The site was commanded by Captain Henry Wirz, who was tried and executed after the war for war crimes. It was overcrowded to four times its capacity, with 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 died. The chief causes of death were scurvy, diarrhea and dysentery. A clean presentable set of books.