Captain Henry Wirz

Captain Henry Wirz was a Swiss-born Confederate officer who commanded the Andersonville Prison during the American Civil War. Known for its extreme overcrowding and harsh conditions, Andersonville became infamous for the suffering and high death toll among prisoners of war. After the war, Wirz was tried and convicted of war crimes for his role in the abuse and neglect of prisoners. He was executed in 1865, becoming one of the few individuals held accountable for wartime atrocities in the Civil War. His case remains a notable example of military justice and the difficulties of wartime humanitarian treatment.