Database: Jail conditions for POWs

Conditions of incarceration varied greatly during the American Revolution. On the American side, providing decent treatment was common practice though tough conditions were occasionally reported. In the absence of proper camps for Prisoners of War (POWs), it was in fact common to distribute the British soldiers or German troops-for-hire among the population, with some degree of freedom. Some prisoners even chose to settle in the colonies and joined the cause of the Patriots! On the British side, conditions were usually inhumane, including cruel treatment and a systematic lack of food, drinking water, and care. The British notably jailed POWs on prison ships in horrific sanitary conditions causing lethal outbursts of disease. In fact, it is estimated that more American Patriots died in prison than on the battlefield or in any other situation.
Category:Abstergo Cloud database entries