Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 34.djvu/80

 72 Southern Historical Society Papers.

PRISON POINTS.

In the North were numerous places for prisoners. They were located at points as follows :

Alleghany, Pa., Alton, 111., Camp Butler, 111., Camp Chase, O., Camp Douglas, 111., Camp Morton, Ind., Elmira, N. Y., Fort Columbus, N. Y., Fort Lafayette, N. Y., Fort Warren, Md., Fort Wood, N. Y., Fort Pickens, Fla/, Point Lookout, Md., Rock Island, 111., Johnston's Island, O., Louisville, Ky., Memphis, Tenn., Nashville, Tenn. ,

In this essay it is unnecessary to specify the number of prisoners in each station, as they were distributed to suit the wishes and conveniences of the government, presumably for their own conveni- ence for supplies, guards and facility for keeping.

In the South prisons were located at Americus, Ga., Camp Sumter, Andersonville, Ga. ; Atlanta, Ga. ; Augusta, Ga. ; Black - shear, Ga. ; Cahaba, Ala.; Camp Lawton, Millen, Ga. ; Camp Oglethorpe, Macon, Ga. ; Charleston, S. C. ; Florence, S. C. ; Columbia, S. C. ; Charlotte, N. C. ; Salisbury, N. C. ; Raieigh, N. C. ; Danville, Va. ; Richmond, Va. ; Belle Isle, Castle Thunder, Crews, Libby, Pemberton's, Scott's, Smith's Factory.

The supposition is likewise that these places were selected for the convenience of th r e Confederate government for purposes of safety from raids for the release of prisoners and for proper care of prisoners.

The prison at Andersonville, called Camp Sumpter, was the most noted of all the Confederate prisons. In this prison there were more Union prisoners and more suffering than in any other prison in the Confederate States. There Captain Henry Wirz was in command, and to him has been charged the alleged cruelties and crimes at the prison.

It is undoubtedly true that there was much suffering in this prison, but it is hardly true that Captain Wirz was responsible for all of it, if for any.

He was Swiss by birth, a physician by profession, and he came to America long before the war and located in New Orleans, La. He entered the Confederate army and was severely wounded in a battle, so as to bar him from active field service. He was assigned and detailed for duty as commanding officer at Andersonville prison.