Elmira Prison was built by the Union and housed Confederate Soldiers. The Union chose this location because of its proximity with to the Erie Railway and the Northern Central Railway. This prison was used from July 6, 1864 to the Autumn of 1865. The Union did not treat the 12,100+ Confederate soldiers right. 25% (2,963) died from either malnutrition, disease, lack of medical care, poor sanitary conditions, or because of the weather conditions. Later it was destroyed and turned into farm land. In the movie we saw Luke Geyser laying in one of the shelters. Luke was clearly sick and dirty. We also saw John and his sister Emma trying to give supplies to Luke and trying to sneak a gun into it. Jonas did come in to save Luke and the other Geysers.