Henry Wirz

[tackitt27]

This may have been discussed before, but I would love to hear everyone's opinoin on weather he did or did not deserve to be executed. He had 160 witnesses testify against him but mostly ex prisoners of his camp. Or, was having 30,000 men in that small area too hard to do any better?

 

[Parault]

In just a quick reply........No he did not deserve to be executed.

 

[ole]

"Railroaded" in the dictionary, ought to include his picture. He was guilty as sin, but singling him out as a symbol of "just" retribution went a bit over the line.

ole

 

[gary]

I'm no neo-Confederate, but I think Wirz was unfairly handled. He did ask for more food and his own guards were on half rations. Where he could have exercised discretion, that is, in letting local ladies deliver food, but he refused to permit it. It wouldn't have been much, but it probably could have saved a few lives in the infirmary/hospital. In all fairness though, no jailer would allow food in for fear of contraband including means of escape or weapons being smuggled in. Perhaps if he allowed the raw materials into the infirmary/hospital kitchen, that could have been a compromise.

One thing we should remember about Wirz is that he was Swiss. Swiss are very much by the book people and are by nature very intolerant of deviations from the norm. What may be seen as cruel was really Wirz being a Switzer.

 

[Blockaderunner]

Don't forget he also forbid the prisoners from building any kind of substantial shelter. Surely he was not forced to do that?

 

[Blockaderunner]

I visited Andersonville back in 2001. I was more than a little surprised to find a monument dedicated to Wirz. This is located in the small town of the same name which is virtually in sight of the camp. During my visit, I also met the grandson or great grandson of Wirz. He was a colonel in the Swiss army.

I should have asked to see his pen knife.

 

[william42]

Good topic tackitt. I agree with the term "railroaded" used by Ole. The book I read on Andersonville showed that he did what he could with what he had. The South by that time (1864) could barely feed its own troops let alone Yankee prisoners, plus the termination of the prisoner exchange program rapidly increased the prison population. The shelter thing that was brought up I don't remember reading about, so I can't comment on that. Conditions in all of the pow camps, North and South were horrible, and I don't know how Wirz could've been singled out for execution and nobody else.


Terry

 

[Freddy]

There is a thread on Andersonville and Wirz a few pages back. I posted what is below this. Even my great-grandfather knew it was others besides Wirz who were responsible for the horror of Andersonville.

"If you would like to learn about Andersonville I suggest you read William Marvel's, Andersonvile:The Last Depot, which was well researched. You can also go to my website at www.civilwardiary.net and read from June 7, 1864 through October 11, 1864 about my great grandfather's summer at Andersonville and later stay at Millen, GA. Wirz was an SOB, but he also had an impossible job to do. His personality and behavior contributed to the hatred Union POW's had for him. Even my great grandfather felt the higher ups were just as responsible for the horrible conditions. From the diary: 1864"


"Another week or our pine log prison. Busy from 6 to 10 hours a day, drawing and dividing rations, and looking after the sick and "skirmishing" for the "greybacks" are ever ready to find a dwelling place in our clothing and a daily skirmish drill is a necessity. Have felt weak from the heat and slight attacks of diarhea. God has been merciful to me in comparison to thousands scattered through the prison. Several lots of new prisoners in. Have sad and trying time with the sick of my ninety. Two have died and ten more are in a bad way. A few surgeons have visited us, but have had no medicines to give us. Have had none for the hospital for 9 days. This is crowded to overflowing, and many a poor comrade has to lie and waste away with nothing done for them. Yesterday was first for five days that any have been taken to the hospital. It is amazing to see the lack of humanity on the part of the rebel officials, for many of us think that the "Dutch Captain" is not the only one to blame. It seems to us that with a little energy on their part, shelter from the blazing sun could be provided from the surrounding forests.

Yesterday was the first time for five days that the sick call has been sounded. It brought together the saddest sight I have yet seen in the prison. Between four and five hundred crowded into the streets and by paths leading to the gate. More than half assisted by their comrades, scores lugged in blankets, and exposed to the blazing sun. Some of them died on the way, and many were sunstruck. The process of inspection by the surgeons was slow and when about there was three fourths examined, word came that no more could be attended to. Back to quarters under the noonday sun. They had to hobble, crawl, or were borne the rest of the way with their hopes of relief dashed from them."
__________________

 

[samgrant]

That he had no responsibility? I can't buy that.

That he should have been executed? Heck no, as any "Pro-Lifer" must admit.


-

 

[tackitt27]

The responses have been great. My take is similar to others. Was he responsible for alot of deaths.....yea. Should he have been executed...no way. The suspension of prisoner exchange really did those guys in. With no hope of being exchanged and the south's dwidling production equaled disaster. Wirz didnt do much to help their suffering however.

 

[30th_il]

Can you imagine being a bride to this guy? "Do you take Henry, in sickness in health..for better, for wirz....

 

[gary]

30th IL - go to bed. Come back when you wake up.

 

[M E Wolf]

Dear tackitt27 and List Members;

It is my opinion that Captain Henry Wirz was caught up in a revenge furver by the Union's citizens. It was bad on both sides for any prisoners regardless if Union or Confederate.

Unfortunately for Captain Wirz; the assassination of President Lincoln and its connection to Confederate conspiracy headed by John Wilkes Booth on April 14, 1865; was the same parallel timeline or near the time of the assassination. The defense was inadequate and not much different from the 'kangaroo court' of history's past--Captain Wirz was the example and reminder to those Confederates who had fight left in them and or any ideas to start things up again.

I feel Capt. Wirz didn't have to die however, he did. Justice isn't perfect and there are steps now, even in Military Courts as to create the needed ability to appeal and exhaust the system.

I am not sure about how many soldiers on both sides were shot execution style on the fields of battle. I do believe in battle, there would be an excellent opportunity to 'execute' someone to whom one had a beef with.
Ballistics would not be possible, due to the arms commonly used as well as the lack of expertise` to identify the round with absolute proof. If memory serves me correctly; the possibility of being shot was always present as suggested in the movie Gettysburg;e.g. 2nd Maine prisoners delivered to Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain of the 20th Maine.

IF--and I repeat IF; Captain Wirz died by hanging, at the prison site which now is the site of the US Surpreme Court; has caused men who still wished to continue the war and/or restart a new conflict --to stop and just stop everything; I believe Captain Wirz in that martyr position saved lives. Perhaps Captain Wirz's ghost or the location will remind all the Justices how justice is not always 'just.'

Just some thoughts.

Sincerely,
M. E. Wolf

 

[ole]

Just some thoughts.

Can't fully agree with all of them, Wolf, but thanks for sharing.

ole

 

[gary]

Forgot which book, but I do recall a Union officer being "fragged" (to use a Vietnam Grunt term) during the wa-oh.

 

[EricJacobson]

I'm with Gary on this one. Wirz was no angel, but he did not deserve to be executed. Commanders at Camp Chase and Camp Douglas were equally culpable. That said, Wirz is not the hero he is out made out to be by some.

 

[Lnwlf]

Bumped to top to save another thread.