An estimated 52,000 Confederate soldiers were held at the prison between 1863 and 1865. There was some actual housing for some of the prisoners, but the majority were forced to live in tents. Winter conditions were one of the main reasons for many of the deaths at Lookout. Lack of adequate clothing, blankets, and housing during long periods of cold weather led to the death of several thousand Confederate prisoners. An estimated 4,ooo died while at the prison, making Lookout slightly better than many other prison camps, but it still suffered major flaws in its treatment of prisoners. There were often problems with keeping the camp in sanitary conditions and in providing safe drinking water. The picture on top is a gathering of Union officers in charge of Lookout. The bottom is a drawing of the prison complex. Notice the large number of tents, and the lack of living space. Lookout though better than other prisons in some ways was still overcrowded, and a deadly place to live.
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