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Civil War/Civil War Union Letters: Union General James William Denver On The Trial Of Henry Wirtz, A

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Civil War/Civil War Union Letters: Union General James William Denver On The Trial Of Henry Wirtz, A
August 13, 1865 Letter From Union General James William Denver, Discussing the Trial of Captain Henry Wirtz, Andersonville Prison Commandant. Denver writes his wife a 4-page letter on his law firm's stationery, 9.75" x 7.75", Extremely Fine. After some personal news, Denver writes: "...On Tuesday next the case of Capt. Wirtz is to come up before a military commission. It is attracting a great deal of attention and the Germans have got very much enlisted in it. Quite a number who were prisoners have come forward and say that they will testify to his good conduct and kind treatment as far as he had power, and if they prove what they say they will he ought to be acquitted, but I am of opinion that the intention is hang him and that no stone will be left unturned to effect it. It seems a little strange that this man should have been selected to be tried first when there are several prominent and well known leaders among the rebels who are now in custody on the same or similar charges. Is it because he was thought to be a poor, friendless 'Dutchman' who was not able to employ lawyers to defend him, & with whom an example could be made and nobody to take his part? If this was the expectation it was a mistake. The case published by our firm...has called out a great many who were prisoners under charge of Capt. Wirtz, and it has aroused a great deal of interest for him." General Denver, a Union general, obviously feels that Wirtz, the Swiss-born Confederate commandant, is being used as a scapegoat. Indeed, Wirtz was found guilty and "hanged by the neck til he be dead" on November 10, 1865. The letter contains more content about infighting between the "Long Hairs" and the "Short Hairs" of the Republican party. Accompanied by the transmittal envelope. Denver was appointed B.G. USV in August 1861. He commanded the troops in Kansas and fought at Shiloh. He commanded several brigades and divisions in the Army of the Tennessee before resigning in March 1863 to practice law. Prior to his Civil War service, Denver was Secretary of the State of California (1853), and United States representative from California (1855-1857); he was instrumental in the promotion of the Transcontinental railroad, served as Secretary of the Territory of Kansas (1857-1858), as Governor of Kansas Territory (1858), and was U.S. Commissioner of Indian Affairs (1858-1859). Denver, Colorado was named after him.