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Contact: Charles Barr, 229-924-0343 ext. 112
Contact: Jody Mays, 229-924-0343 ext. 115
Release Date: 1 February 2016
Contacts: Charles Barr charles_barr@nps.gov, 229 924-0343, ext. 112
Jody Mays jody_mays@nps.gov, 229 924-0343, ext. 203
NR16-01
Prisoner of War Museum to Host Program on Shoremen on Trial - Andersonville and the Eastern Shore Connection
Thursday, February 11 at 1:00 p.m. at Andersonville National Historic Site.
ANDERSONVILLE, Georgia – The National Prisoner of War Museum will be hosting Special guest speaker Kellee Green Blake, retired Director of the National Archives in Philadelphia, will present this one-time program at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 11 at the National Prisoner of War Museum at Andersonville National Historic Site. Entrance to the park and the program are free. For more information, please call 229-924-0343.
Two of Andersonville Prison’s leading figures, Captain Richard B. Winder, architect and quartermaster, and Dr. Isaiah White, chief surgeon, hailed from Virginia’s Eastern Shore. What happened to them after the Civil War? Were they arrested, charged, or tried for their involvement in the prison? Were they able to shake the infamy associated with the horrors of Andersonville that everyone was talking about?
A scandalous divorce, allegations of items stolen from prisoners, and other events make for an intriguing tale of the fates of these men who played such prominent roles in the most infamous of all Civil War prisons.
Although, as you know, General John H. Winder and Captain William S. Winder arguably hailed from the Eastern Shore of Maryland, my program focused on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, a remarkably small and isolated parcel of Virginia with a mighty big story. Even I was surprised to learn of the depth of the Andersonville connection. The strongest part of my presentation related to Quartermaster Captain R. B. Winder’s Andersonville experience, including Winder's postwar efforts to overcome the “demon” of Andersonville association, a scandalous divorce (his wife allegedly misbehaved with occupying soldiers in his absence) and his reinvention of himself as a leader in the Baltimore medical community. Winder’s sister, Mary Catherine Winder Howard, made a wonderful diary of the early days of the Civil War, including R. B. Winder’s first taste of “yankee invasion.”
After visiting Winder at the Old Capital Prison In the fall of 1865, Winder’s attorney and childhood friend George Garrison’s was found with a box of watches, bonds, and other items from Winder allegedly belonging to Andersonville prisoners. Garrison’s arrest and the attendant headlines filled newspapers from coast to coast. Garrison, lame from birth, had his own adventures in obtaining release from Fort Monroe.
Andersonville National Historic Site is located 10 miles south of Oglethorpe, GA and 10 miles northeast of Americus, GA on Georgia Highway 49. The national park features the National Prisoner of War Museum, Andersonville National Cemetery and the site of the historic Civil War prison, Camp Sumter. Andersonville National Historic Site is the only national park within the National Park System to serve as a memorial to all American prisoners of war. Park grounds are open from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. The National Prisoner of War Museum is open 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., daily. Admission is free. For more information on the park, call 229 924-0343, or visit at www.nps.gov/ande/ Visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AndersonvilleNPS, Twitter www.twitter.com/andeNHS
NPS
About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 401 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov Visit us on Facebook www.facebook.com/nationalparkservice, Twitter www.twitter.com/natlparkservice, and YouTube www.youtube.com/nationalparkservice.
Last updated: March 8, 2018