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The Execution of Henry Wirz, Commander of Andersonville Prison, 1865, historic photos

The execution of Henry Wirz: Reading the death warrant. 1865, Andersonville Prison.

This series of historic photos show the execution of Henry Wirz, the former commander of Andersonville Prison (also known as Camp Sumter) at Andersonville, Georgia. Andersonville Prison had held 45,000 Union soliders prisoner in very crowded and unsanitary conditions. During the fourteen months that Andersonville Prison was in operation, nearly 13,000 soldiers died, mostly of disease and also of starvation. After the Civil War ended, Wirz was captured and charged with being personally responsible for the deplorable conditions of the prison camp.

A military tribunal presided over by Major General Lew Wallace found Henry Wirz guilty of a number of charges including conspiring to "injure the health and destroy the lives of soldiers in the military service of the United States" as well as personally murdering thirteen prisoners and numerous additional charges. Wirz was hanged on November 10, 1865 in the prison yard of the Old Capitol Prison, Washington, D. C. (This is now the location of the United States Supreme Court building.) Wirz was buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Washington, D. C.; his simple tombstone reads: "Captain Henry Wirz, Confederate Hero - Martyr, Died Nov. 10, 1865". The photo shown above is of the reading of the death warrant to Henry Wirz. See the additional views below.

The execution of Henry Wirz: Adjusting the noose. 1865, Andersonville Prison.

The execution of Henry Wirz: Adjusting the Noose. See the additional photos below.

The execution of Henry Wirz: Springing the trap door. 1865, Andersonville Prison.

The execution of Henry Wirz: Springing the trap door of the gallows. Note the Capitol building in the background. Several soldiers can be seen in the trees in the background. See the additional photo below.

The execution of Henry Wirz: The body hanging from the gallows rope. 1865, Andersonville Prison.

The execution of Henry Wirz: The body hanging from the gallows rope. His head, covered by a hood, can be seen near the center between the first and second boards.

View a photo of the Confederate Prison at Andersonville, Georgia

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