American Civil War Monuments

The Henry Wirz Monument

Andersonville, Georgia

    

     Photo and Text courtesy of LCWRT Member Charlie Moore

Located outside of Andersonville National Historic Site, in the community of Andersonville, stands a lone monument, a memorial to Confederate Captain Heinrich Wirz.  Wirz served as commander of the Camp Sumter military prison for most of its 14 months of operation between 1864-65 and was later convicted of  the “war crimes” of murder and conspiracy by a Union military tribunal.  He was hanged in Washington, DC on November 10, 1865.  He was the only man convicted and executed for such crimes after the war. 

The monument, like the man for whom it is dedicated, was bathed in controversy during its conception and construction. Between 1899 and 1916 sixteen northern states dedicated monuments to the prisoners held at Andersonville.  In response to this monument building, and to honor Wirz and to vindicate his name, a site in the town of Andersonville, near the infamous prison, was chosen to honor him. Whether you believe him to be a villain, or a hero, Captain Wirz and the monument dedicated to his memory remain as reminders of a bitter and controversial time in our history.  The monument was erected by the United Daughters of the Confederacy, and dedicated May 12, 1909.