Were the Confederate soldiers punished after the Civil War ended?

Answer 1

On Christmas Day 1868, President Johnson granted an unconditional pardon to all Civil War participants except high-ranking military and civil officials. In May 1872 the Congressional Amnesty Act gave the right to hold office again to almost all Southern leaders who had been excluded from public office by the 14th Amendment.

The U.S. government wanted Jefferson Davis, the former President of the Confederated States of America, to ask for a pardon, but he refused this, feeling that to do so would be an admission of guilt. Davis actually wanted to stand trial for treason, because he felt certain that he would be vindicated. On May 5, 1867 he was freed on bond at Richmond, and soon after he traveled o a home that had been prepared for him near Montreal, Canada. In October it appeared that he would have to go back to Richmond for a trial, but that likelihood evaporated and he never stood trial at all.

Captain Henry Wirz was the commanding officer of Camp Sumter, the Confederate prisoner of war camp located near Andersonville, Georgia. While commanding this camp, Union prisoners were subject to extreme overcrowding, starvation, little or no protection from the elements and mistreatment at the hands of the guards. Wirz was arrested by federal authorities in May 1865 and charged with conspiracy to impair the lives of Union prisoners of war. He was convicted of the conspiracy charge and 11 of 13 murder charges. He received a death sentence. Wirz asked President Johnson to grant him clemency, but he never received a reply. He was hanged on November 10, 1865.

Henry Wirz was one of only two Confederates, tried convicted and executed for war crimes during the Civil War. The other was Samuel "Champ" Ferguson. Ferguson was a Confederate Guerrilla who admitted to killing more that 100 people, mostly civilians, who were sympathetic to the Union. He was tried for 53 murders and on October 10, 1865, was convicted and sentenced to death. He was hanged on October 20, 1865.

Answer 2

In a way, yes, as are the soldiers on the losing side of many wars. The South was devastated and occupied by the North. Some of the Confederate veterans were maimed or psychologically scarred, and many of their comrades were dead, but this punishment applied to the Union soldiers as well. Confederate soldiers were not categorically punished by the Union for having served in the Confederate Army, but they did have to live with the knowledge that four years of war and sacrifice had only brought ruin instead of victory. Is this not punishment enough? They had nothing to do except return to their homes and rebuild, or go west and try to begin a new life.

Answer 3

None.

They were told to hand in their weapons, sign a pledge never to fight against the United States again, and then go home. After that, they would not be persecuted.