Hellmira

"Hellmira: The Union’s Most Infamous Civil War Prison Camp" by Derek Maxfield offers a detailed look at the notorious Elmira prison camp in New York, highlighting its hasty construction, overcrowded conditions, and the humanitarian crisis it represented during the Civil War. The book contextualizes the rise of prisoner-of-war camps, examines the failed prisoner exchanges, and explores the enduring legacy of blame between North and South. Ultimately, Maxfield encourages a balanced perspective, viewing these camps as a shared humanitarian failure rather than a matter of blame.