To be honest, I rented this movie reluctantly. I didn't expect to be as moved and touched as I was by the end of the film. Andersonville was the infamous Southern prison camp located in Andersonville, Georgia. The film begins with a Massachusetts regiment that is captured and sent by train to the prison camp. Once there, they are greeted by the Raiders, who are a group of Union soldiers who murder, steal and abuse fellow soldiers within the camp. They are also greeted by one of their own regiment members whom they believed was dead. As the film progresses, we see how horrid and terrible conditions were in Andersonville. The creek which lies within the prison camp is filthy and we see prisoners bathing, washing clothes, "relieving" themselves of their waste and even drinking the water. We are informed that there is no food available, that disease is rampant and that there are too many people in too small a camp.

             We see a special bond between most of the men in the camp. They attempt to help one another in anyway that they possibly can. There is compassion for their fellow brothers in war. Their efforts to help one another is so admirable even though their end results are usually unrewarding. .

             We also see the tension between the men within the camp. The Raiders and the "rest" of the prisoners. A rebellion against these men occur and a trial is conducted with a jury of peers. At the end of the trial, the Raiders (6 of them) are condemned to be hung. The emotions during the trial are so energetic and angry. It was almost exciting to see these men being tried for abusing their fellow soldiers. .

             Not only were the prisoners being abused and tortured by other Union soldiers, but by their captors as well. Captain Wirz was the overseer of Andersonville. He was cruel and paraded around as if he were a god. He did nothing to improve the conditions of the camp and if anything made it even worse by withholding food and other necessary supplies from the prisoners.