Andersonville National Historic Site in Andersonville, Georgia

On the way to Montgomery, Alabama today I stopped at the site of the infamous Confederate prisoner of war camp, Andersonville. Intended to hold 10,000 men, this 26 1/2 acre prison surrounded by a 15 foot high stockade wall eventually housed over 32,000 prisoners who struggled to survive the terrible conditions which included lack of food, water, shelter, and illness. Nearly 13,000 Union soldiers died here. My favorite part of the tour was visiting Providence Spring. The prisoners constantly suffered from lack of water and in August of 1864 the prisoners prayed for water. In answer to their  prayers a thunderstorm washed across the camp and lightening struck the ground and a spring of cool and clean spring water burst from the ground, saving the lives of many men.  A monument now stands on the site commemorating that event, and I was able to put my hands in the cool water and imagine what a relief it must have been to the prisoners. Today the site also honors all POWs and it was so interesting to learn about this topic and remember those who have been imprisoned while serving our country.