This coming weekend marks a major milestone for The 1861 Project: the first live, public performance of some of the material from the forthcoming CD.
Thomm Jutz will be performing at least two songs prior to the opening curtain of a local production of “The Andersonville Trial” – a play that examines the legal proceedings against Captain Henry Wirz, the ill-fated commander of the notorious Confederate POW camp where more than 13,000 Union prisoners died from disease and malnutrition. The play will be presented by the Battle of Nashville Preservation Society in cooperation with The Lamplighter’s Theater Company.
So it was with some interest that we learned recently of the book “Hiram’s Honor,” which tells the story of one Hiram Terman, a soldier in the 82nd Ohio Infantry who was captured at Gettysburg and incarcerated at Andersonville. The book was written by Max R. Terman, Ph. D. — Professor Emeritus at Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kansas. Dr. Terman offers an interesting perspective on Hiram’s experience:
The unique thing about this book is that I assume the identity of my ancestor in all of his battles and prison misery. It was quite a challenge to match every detail that actually happened (dairies, letters, first-hand accounts) with a first person dramatized and riveting story of how I would have reacted in his situation.
In an e-mail exchange I had with Dr. Terman a couple of weeks ago, he shared this observation about play:
I have seen the Andersonville Trial starring William Shatner many times and while not perfect, I thought it very moving and I used it as a motivator when writing the Andersonville scenes. Nothing matches the actual visit to Andersonville though and standing where your ancestor suffered.
“… the actual visit to Andersonville…” — One more destination to add to our growing itinerary of Civil War destinations.
Performances of “The Andersonville Trial” are Friday (6/17) at 7:30 PM & Saturday (6/18) at 3:00 PM and 7:30 PM. For tickets call the Lamplighter’s Theatre Company Ticket Sales Voicemail line 615-852-8499 (TIXX). For more information on “The Andersonville Trial” visit www.lamplighterstheatre.com.
