Andersonville, georgia
The Union prisoner camp in Andersonville, Georgia was infamous for being overcrowded and having extremely unsanitary conditions. The camp was 16.5 acres and it held 31,000 Union prisoners. More than 13,000 of them died in this camp, but some believed there were many more mortalities. Quartermaster Sargent John Ransom was being held captive and Andersonville and he stated, "The meal that the bread is made out of is ground, seemingly, cob and all, and it scourges the men fearfully. Things getting continually worse. Hundreds of cases of dropsy."
Henry Wirz was a Confederate captain who was in charge of the Andersonville camp. In a letter that he wrote in 1965 to another commander, he stated that he understood why he was being charged with these crimes, he just does not feel that he should be held completely responsible. He admitted to the camp being overcrowded and there being a lack of rations and supplies, like clothing, but claims he was "the tool in the hands of my superiors." He was trying to put forth the idea that he was forced to treat the prisoners the way they were treated. Wirz ended up being the only commander during the Civil War charged with war crimes and ended up being executed.
Henry Wirz was a Confederate captain who was in charge of the Andersonville camp. In a letter that he wrote in 1965 to another commander, he stated that he understood why he was being charged with these crimes, he just does not feel that he should be held completely responsible. He admitted to the camp being overcrowded and there being a lack of rations and supplies, like clothing, but claims he was "the tool in the hands of my superiors." He was trying to put forth the idea that he was forced to treat the prisoners the way they were treated. Wirz ended up being the only commander during the Civil War charged with war crimes and ended up being executed.