Tramp, Tramp, Tramp
Civil War prison camps were horrific. 56,000 men died in prison camps which was about 10% of the total death toll. Soldiers were more likely to die if they were in a prison camp than if they were fighting in battles. Soldiers in prison camps died of starvation, disease, lack of shelter, attacks from other prisoners and punishment by the enemy guards. It is estimated that for every 3 soldiers killed in battle, 5 died of disease.
(Scroll down the page to see a graph of battle deaths vs. disease deaths)
Click pictures for larger view.
In Andersonville Prison, a southern prison holding northern soldiers, there were constant rumors that Union troops were on their way to free the prisoners.
In 1863, George F. Root wrote "Tramp! Tramp! Tramp! (The Prisoner's Hope)" which became one of the most popular songs of the war.
Tramp! Tramp! Tramp!
George F. Root, 1963
Performed by: 97th New York Regimental String Band
1. In the prison cell I sit, thinking Mother, dear, of you,
And our bright and happy home so far away,
And the tears, they fill my eyes 'spite of all that I can do,
Tho' I try to cheer my comrades and be gay.
Tramp, tramp, tramp, the boys are marching,
Cheer up, comrades, they will come.
And beneath the starry flag we shall breathe the air again,
Of the free land in our own beloved home.
2. In the battle front we stood, when their fiercest charge they made,
And they swept us off a hundred men or more,
But before we reached their lines, they were beaten back dismayed,
And we heard the cry of victory o'er and o'er.
Tramp, tramp, tramp, the boys are marching,
Cheer up, comrades, they will come.
And beneath the starry flag we shall breathe the air again,
Of the free land in our own beloved home.
3. So within the prison cell we are waiting for the day,
That shall come to open wide the iron door.
And the hollow eye grows bright, and the poor heart almost gay,
As we think of seeing home and friends once more.
Tramp, tramp, tramp, the boys are marching,
Cheer up, comrades, they will come.
And beneath the starry flag we shall breathe the air again,
Of the free land in our own beloved home.
Here is another version with images of the prison camps: