Lot
2466 
Confederacy, Libby Prison, Richmond, Va., yellow prisoner-of-war cover to Miss Marcia Fisher in Trenton N.J., endorsed "Soldiers Letter Prisoner of War" at top and signed "Wm. D. Wilkins" and "Asst Adjt Gen", censored with manuscript "Exd HW." by Captain Henry H. Wirz, later of Andersonville Prison infamy, postmarked "Washington, D.C., Sep. 12, 1863" double circle with matching "Due 3" handstamp for U.S. rating; minor stain spots, otherwise Very Fine. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE COMMANDANT HENRY WIRZ'S CENSOR MARKING ON A FLAG-OF-TRUCE COVER FROM LIBBY PRISON.
Henry H. Wirz took command of Libby Prison beginning in late 1862. In March 1864, he was assigned to Andersonville (Camp Sumter). 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.
Realized: $800