North prison camps like Elmira Prison in New York starved Confederate prisoners, leading to thousands of deaths, even when food was available. Andersonville prison camp in the South was overcrowded with over 45,000 Union prisoners, far more than its capacity. Food shortages in the South caused prisoners in all camps to go weeks without food, spiking the death rate. Prison conditions in both the North and South were terrible due to overcrowding, disease, lack of supplies and medicine, and little food or clothing for prisoners. Harsh punishments for escape attempts or serious crimes included hanging, being chained to heavy balls or carriage wheels, and bucking and gagging prisoners.