A view of the scaffold inside the Old Capitol Prison in Washington, D.C., with the condemned, Confederate Captain Henry Wirz, his lawyer Louis Schade, and about eight other men on the platform. One of the men is is adjusting the noose around Wirz's neck, and a large number of soldiers are standing on all sides of the gallows. There are people watching from the trees outside the walls of the prison. Title written in ms. below the image and on the verso. A further ms. note on the verso reads "Wirz, Capt. Henry ; Confederate prison keeper hanged ; 1865." Wirz was in command of Andersonville Prison, officially known as Fort Sumter, in Andersonville, Georgia, from April 1864 to the end of the Civil War. Wirz became one of the few Confederates to be put on trial after the war; he was found guilty of murder and conspiracy, and was hanged on November 10, 1865.
If you're wondering about permissions and what you can do with this item, a good starting point is the "rights information" on this page. See our terms of use for more tips.
Share your story
Has Calisphere helped you advance your research, complete a project, or find something meaningful? We'd love to hear about it; please send us a message.