General John Henry Winder, CSA-- Part 2; Andersonville, a Family Affair

His son Sidney was selected to find a suitable location for a new prison to relieve the overcrowding at Libby and Bell Isle prisons in Richmond.  Sidney selected Andersonville because it was near a railroad and he had information that the location had a "large supply of beautiful water,"

The general's nephew, Richard Winder was given command of the prison's construction.

General Winder died at the Confederate military prison in Florence, South Carolina, of a heart attack in 1865.

Had he not died, very likely he would have had to stand trial for Andersonville.  "In all probability, the responsibility for conditions at Andersonville should fall on the Winder's shoulders as much as on Captain Wirz."

--Old Secesh

Old Capitol Prison-- Part 3

During the war, the Old Capitol prison as it was now called, was expanded to include the adjoining row of houses called Duff Green's Row.  Famous inmates included spies Rose Greenhow, Belle Boyd, John Mosby and Henry Wirz, commander of Andersonville, who was hanged in the yard of the prison.  There were many hangings at the Old Capitol Prison.

The Lincoln Conspirators were held there, including Dr. Samuel Mudd, Mary Surratt, Louis Weichmann and John T. Ford, owner of Ford's Theater.

It was sold in 1867 to George T. Brown, then sergeant-at-arms of the U.S. senate.  he modified it into three row houses that became known as Trumbull's Row.  In the 20th century, it was used as the headquarters of the National Woman's party.

In 1929, the site was obtained by eminent domain and razed in order to build the U.S. Supreme Court Building.

--Old Secesh