Andersonville in Sumter County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)

Wirz Monument

Photographed By Brandon Fletcher, November 8, 2008

1. Wirz Monument

Inscription.
(east side) Wirz

In memory
Captain Henry Wirz
C.S.A.

Born Zurich, Switzerland, 1822
Sentenced to death
and executed at Washington D.C.
Nov. 10, 1865.

To rescue his name from the stigma
attached to it by embittered prejudice.
This shaft is erected by
The Georgia Division
United Daughters of the Confederacy. (north side)
When time shall have softened passion and prejudice, when reason shall have stripped the mask from misrepresentations, then justice, holding evenly her scales, will require much of past censures and praise to change places.
Jefferson Davis, Dec. 1888

(west side)
It is hard on our men held 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 would insure Sherman’s defeat and would compromise our safety here.
Ulysses S. Grant, Aug. 18, 1864

(south side)
Discharging his duty with such humanity as the harsh circumstances of the times, and the policy of the foe permitted Capt. Wirz became at last the victim of a misdirected popular clamor. He was arrested in the time of peace, while under the protection of parole,

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tried by a military commission of a service to which he did not belong, and condemned to ignominious death on charges of excessive cruelty to Federal prisoners. He indignantly spurned a pardon proffered on condition that he would incriminate President Davis and thus exonerate himself from charges of which both were innocent.

Erected 1909 by The Georgia Division, United Daughters of the Confederacy.

Topics and series. This monument and memorial is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the United Daughters of the Confederacy series list. A significant historical date for this entry is November 10, 1865.

Location. 32° 11.677′ N, 84° 8.411′ W. Marker is in Andersonville, Georgia, in Sumter County. Memorial is at the intersection of East Church Street and Oglethorpe Street, in the median on East Church Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Andersonville GA 31711, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. POW * MIA (within shouting distance of this marker); Andersonville / Father Peter Whelan (within shouting distance of this marker); Captain Henry Wirz (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Camp Sumter Confederate Prison Site (approx. 0.4 miles away); Star Fort (approx. half a mile away); The Commandant's Perspective

Photographed By Brandon Fletcher, November 8, 2008

2. Wirz Monument

(approx. half a mile away); The Prison Hospital (approx. half a mile away); Stockade Branch (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Andersonville.

[Washington, D.C. Adjusting the rope for the execution of Wirz] image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Alexander Gardner, November 10, 1865

3. [Washington, D.C. Adjusting the rope for the execution of Wirz]

Library of Congress (LC-DIG-cwpb-04195)

Andersonville Civil War Village image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brandon Fletcher, November 8, 2008

4. Andersonville Civil War Village

Credits. This page was last revised on October 21, 2020. It was originally submitted on September 1, 2015, by Brandon Fletcher of Chattanooga, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 659 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 1, 2015, by Brandon Fletcher of Chattanooga, Tennessee. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.