Lot
4384 
Confederacy, Andersonville Ga. (Camp Sumter), 1864 cover from a prisoner-of-war to Perry, N.Y., manuscript "Exd. H.W" by Camp Commandant Capt. Henry Wirz, endorsed "Prisoners of War Letter / Via Charleston Flag of Truce", mixed franking with C.S.A. postage to Richmond paid by uncancelled 10¢ blue (11), light horiz. crease, and U.S. postage paid with 3¢ rose (65), tied by quartered cork, "Old Point Comfort Va. Jun 18" cds, Very Fine. Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.
A WONDERFUL MIXED-FRANKING PRISONER-OF-WAR COVER FROM ANDERSONVILLE, CENSORED BY INFAMOUS CAMP COMMANDANT HENRY WIRZ.
Henry H. Wirz took command of Andersonville (Camp Sumter) beginning in March 1864. After the war, Wirz was charged with conspiracy and murder by Federal authorities. His trial was held in the Capitol building in Washington and was presided over by Union General Lew Wallace. A number of former prisoners testified on conditions at Andersonville, many accusing Wirz of specific acts of cruelty (some of these accounts were later called into question by historians as exaggerated or false). The court also heard from Confederate officers and considered official correspondence from captured Confederate records. Wirz presented evidence that he pleaded to Confederate authorities to try to get more food and maintained that he tried to improve the conditions for the prisoners. Wirz was found guilty of murder and was sentenced to death. On November 10, 1865, he was hanged in Washington at the site of the current Supreme Court building -- the only Confederate official to be tried, convicted and executed for war crimes resulting from the Civil War.
The prisoner, Union soldier Merrill, was captured at Plymouth N.C. and later died at the Andersonville Camp later in Summer 1864.
Realized: $4,750