In moving back to the original post:
Why wasn't the many witnesses to the defendent, Major Henry Wirtz, allowed to give their testimony? I've often pondered this after viewing a History Channel program which stated that large numbers of Wirtz's beneficial witnesses were denied their testimony in the trial
Also, apparently some Union leaders believed the charges levelled against Maj. Wirtz were false and wished him to be found guilty of a much lesser charge, escaping the gallows. Why were some Union officers (don't know their names) against Maj. Wirtz being found guilty & hanged?
I read a similar account of a Confederate private POW stating his "overhearing" a Union POW camp doctor "bragging he had killed more Confederates than men in the front lines had", (paraphrasing the CS private, but I'm pretty close.) This CS private stated that severely infirmed men intentionally denied "morning sick call" due to the realistic threat of 'legally' being murdered by this Union doctor. As a former R.N., I couldn't fathom killing Union POW's while they were sick and just because I had the opportunity or power to do so.
Why wasn't war crimes filed against this Union officer, or other Union POW camp Commandants, as well? CS POW Camps were not the only 'bad' ones utilized during the war.
Sincerely,
Rob Adams (Alabaman)