In February 1864, the Confederate government established Camp Sumter, a large military prison near the small railroad depot of Anderson (now Andersonville) in south-western Georgia, built to house Union prisoners-of-war. In April 1864, Wirz arrived at Camp Sumter and remained there for over a year holding the post of commandant of the stockade and its interior.[11] Wirz was praised by his many superiors and even by some prisoners, and was even recommended for, but not promoted to, major.[12]

12. Page, Haley. (1908). p. 187.

Page, James Madison; Haley, M.J. (1908). The True Story of Andersonville Prison. Neale (2000 reprint by Digital Scanning Inc.).