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

General John Henry Winder, CSA-- Part 1: Commander of Confederate Prisons

This last Monday, July 24, I wrote about Salisbury, Maryland, wanting to take down a marker to John Winder, a Confederate general.  It was erected by the Maryland Civil War Centennial Commission in the 1960s.

I wasn't sure I had ever heard of this general before, but it turns out I had.

From Andersonville National Historic Site.

General John Henry Winder

West Point graduate, served during the Mexican War.

Resigned his Federal commission in April 1861 and joined the Confederate Army where he was appointed provost marshal and put in command of Union prisoners in Richmond.  Late commanded all prisons in Alabama and Georgia. and for a time made his headquarters at Andersonville.

--Old Secesh