By Calvin E. Johnson Jr. ——Bio and Archives--November 4, 2012
American Politics, News | CFP Comments | Reader Friendly | Subscribe | Email Us
"It is hard on our men in Southern prisons not to exchange them, but it is humanity to those left in the ranks to fight our battles. At this particular time to release all Rebel prisoners north, would insure Sherman’s defeat and compromise our safety."Why wasn’t Captain Henry Wirz given a fair trial? In August 1865, President Andrew Johnson ordered that the charges against Confederate generals and public servants should be dropped but not for Captain Henry Wirz. The Wirz trail was a mockery with witnesses allowed to testify for the prosecution but few for the defense. Captain Wirz was hung in Washington, D.C. on November 10, 1865. It is written that Wirz was offered a deal to save his life, which was to testify against the former Confederate President Jefferson Davis. Wirz, being a man of honor, refused. Captain Henry Wirz, in the last letter to his wife—dated November 10th, said in the concluding sentence,
"Lord, thou callest me, here I am…And, now, farewell, wife children, all; farewell, farewell; God be with us."In 1977, at the National Convention of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, this Historical- Fraternal group declared Captain Henry Wirz a Confederate Martyr and Hero. A posthumous Medal of Honor was also presented in honor and memory of Captain Wirz and is on display at the Andersonville Welcome Center. For more information about the Wirz Memorial in Andersonville on November 4th, please contact James Gaston (Committee Chairman) at 229-924-7460 or gaston7460@bellsouth.net April is Confederate History and Heritage Month.
View Comments
A native of Georgia, Calvin Johnson, Chairman of the National and Georgia Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans, Confederate Veterans Confederate History and Heritage Month Program
He is the author of the book “When America Stood for God, Family and Country.”