What kind of conditions did the prisoners live in?

David Bush: The prisoners lived in Blocks (12) within the prison compound in rooms, with bunks, and limited furniture (which they made), and an additional Block was used for the hospital. The buildings were wood, built at ground level. They had cook stoves that were vented with brick chimneys. Articles that they lost would sometimes go through the floorboards and thus we find them during our excavations. They made lots of various types of jewelry, bought materials from the Sutler as well as having materials shipped to them. They enjoyed many privileges due to their being officers.

The prisoners spent time in their blocks as well as outside in the prison compound. They were allowed to roam freely within the Prison Compound during the daylight hours, but could not go within 30 feet of the fence. A "dead line" was staked out and if they crossed that line, they would be shot. Between 1862 and July 12 of 1864, the dead line along the western wall of the prison was 10 feet, due to the limited space that they had. When the prison was expanded in 1864, the dead line was positioned to 30 feet.

The treatment of the prisoners varied throughout the war. It was fairly good in the early going, but got worse in the latter part of 1864 due to retaliation to reports from other prisons. The prisoners were given the same rations as the guard for most of the war, but they were cut in 1864 as well. They did have blankets, although they complained of the cold in the winters. When the temperature gets below freezing on the lake it is cold to everyone. However, the prisoners especially were not used to the cold.