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Economics

Because of the unique situation of both prisoners and captors at Camp Lawton, an economic system developed that involved both barter and several kinds of money.

Image of a Union soldier being apprehended by Confederate cavalry.

When most prisoners were captured, they were left without many of their most useful and valuable items. Blankets, bedrolls, cooking utensils, and other items were often left in unit baggage trains before a battle. Furthermore, a captured soldier was stripped of weapons, which usually included knives and bayonets, as well as most other kinds of equipment useful for survival, leaving just clothes and shoes. Many of the diarists at Camp Lawton describe how their most prized possessions, besides clothing and blankets, were their tin cups and spoons.

Union prisoners and Confederate guards at Camp Sumter (Andersonville).

Prisoners were given rations, which varied widely due to seasonal changes and supply issues. Most diarists report corn meal, beans, rice, peas, molasses, corn, and sweet potatoes as common foods included in rations. At times, beef was available, especially early on at Camp Lawton. Body parts of cattle not desired by Confederate guards were given to prisoners- especially heads and bones. The availability of many items declined as William T. Sherman’s Union forces neared central Georgia destroying sources of supply and disrupting transportation.

Rations not consumed or saved by prisoners became currency- items to be bartered with other prisoners or even guards. Rations at rare times were supplemented with small alligators, snakes, eels, and other wildlife from the stream that ran through the camp from the nearby springs. Traditional forms of currency used at Camp Lawton included both Confederate and U.S. dollars and coins, as well as some international currency.

Image of Confederate guards changing shifts.

Despite the lack of nutrition and food in general, many may be surprised that both Camp Sumter (Andersonville) and Camp Lawton had sutlers- people who sold goods to prisoners. At Camp Lawton, a Confederate sutler sold goods and food from a small cabin within the stockade. Here is a list of items and their prices from Camp Sumter:

How do the prices, in Confederate dollars, relate to United States currency in the war (“greenbacks”) and 21st century prices? See the table of selected items below.

ItemPrice,
CSA $,
1864
In
US $,
1864
In
Modern
US $
Sugar,
lb.
3.5.88.62
Honey,
lb.
71.754.25
Butter,
lb.
412.49
Flour,
qt.
1.6.4.66
Eggs, raw,
dozen
2.5.631.79
Soap,
lb.
2.75.692.51
Cooked eggs,
each
.55.14.33
Vinegar,
qt.
1.5.381.29
Saleratus,
spnfl.
.28.07.08
Coffee,
spnfl.
.25.06.11
Salt,
spnfl.
.08.02.01
Black pepper,
spnfl.
.25.06.32
Needles,
each
.05.01.17
Tea,
spnfl.
.5.13.71
Pins,
20
.05.01.27
Thread,
skein
.25.061.49
Chicken soup,
pt.
.5.131.92
Bean soup,
pt.
.2.051.93
Vegetable soup,
pt.
.25.062.12
Pea soup,
pt.
.2.052.12
Java coffee,
pt.
.1.033.62
Ginger,
lb.
153.7575.8