War is characterized as an extremely violent, bloody, and destructive clash between two opposing sides. Many times we are blinded by the internal challenges soldiers may face while in a time of war. Challenges that bring a plethora of questions to the table and a dearth of sources to respond to them thus, leaving many in a constant disincentive state of mind. More specifically, the soldiers from the American Civil continuous consternation of becoming a prisoner of war (POW). Being captured by your aggressors during the Civil war caused unimaginable, both mental and physical, trauma to every soldier in captivity. The experiences of many soldiers in captivity were commonly recorded in a simple journal. Often times explaining their intended reader, usually family members, their situations, daily tasks, and challenges. In addition, much of the information is very bland, and very commonly ameliorated to reduce the family’s stress and anxiety. What kind of physical and psychological distress did prisoners of war faced? …show more content…
His hopes were kept at a high level expecting another prisoner exchange until he was sent to one of the infamous and deadliest Confederate Prison known as Andersonville Camp in Georgia. Andersonville Camp imprisoned about 45,000 Union members during the Civil War and approximately 13,000 perished while in captivity. Originally intended to only house 10,000 prisoners, Andersonville quickly became a disease filled confinement where illnesses spread at a rapid rate. Many of the deaths were in huge part caused from diarrhea, dysentery, scurvy, and hospital gangrene.(Percoco) Furthermore, unsanitary conditions, malnutrition, compact spaces, and mistreatment induced these diseases and illnesses. Everyday, Dougherty would write how many prisoners either woke of dead or were killed that day. This had tremendous effects on his moral well-being that would eventually lead to a post-traumatic