The Sun.
London, England, 1865-09-04 00:00:00

THE 'UNITED STATES.

is-
(I( rom the Times Correspondent.)
NEW YORK, Aug. 23.
The trial of Captain Henry Wirtz, who was for-
merly in charge of the Confederate prison at Ander-
sonville, has been opened at Washington before a
military commission. The indictment charges him
with conspiring with "Root. E. Lee, Jas. A. Seddon
(Confederate War Secretary), L. D. Northrop
(Confederate commissary officer), J. 11. Winder,"
and some others, to " injure the health and destroy
the lives of soldiers in the military service of the
United States." The specifications of the charges
against Capt. Wirtz are voluminous and precise. All
those accusations of cruelty perpetrated in Confe-
rate prisons, which, in a previous letter, I referred
to as having been brought before the notice of a
sanitary commissions will now prove to be substan-
tiated by evidence, and the world will have an op-
portunity of judging whether the intense bitterness
of the North towards the Southern leaders, on ac-
count of their treatment of Federal prisoners, is well
founded or not. I observe that Col. Fremantle tes-
tifies to the " generous and humane " treatment
which North-emprisoners experienced. I will only
say, having no interest in the matter, except to find
out the truth---that my
letter was based on the evi-
dence taken before the United States Sanitary Com-
mission,which was composed of men whose high
chcter no one will question. Their names are
M
Valentine Mott, M.D., chairman ; Edward Delafield,.D., Governor Morris, Wilkins, EllerslieWallace,
M.D., Hon. J. I. Clark Hare, and Rev. T. Walden.
As you will so soon receive the evidence to be taken
upon the trial of Capt. Wirtz, it would be tedious
to recapitulate that which was published by the
commission. With reference, however, to the im-
pression that the Federals absolutely refused to
exchange their prisoners, it is important to re-
member a letter written by General Butler, com-
missioner of exchange, to the Confederate com-
missioner, and dated August, 1864, in which he
again offers to make exchanges at once if the Con-
federates would treat negroes as prisoners of war,
and exchange them likewise. It may be said that
this was a condition which the Confederates could
not accept ; nevertheless, it weakens the force of
Colonel Fremantle's statement, that " Mr. Davis
would always have been delighted to exchange the
15,000 starving Federals at Andersonville for a
similar number of Confederates."

One of the most serious charges against Captain
Wirtz is, that he established what was called a
" dead line " round the prison at Andersonville,
beyond it—the line
udrely imaginary—was
prisoners are alleged to
instantlya n and
being, thatin anysnhloa
shot.
many
e Above
instances,w h o s 3 t
oeopp ep
tsbistatewmaeyn. Evidence will be
t, and those who saw
hgivenave bieen nproof
e odf
tihne
the Federal prisoners kindly treated will be heard
in reply. Again, it is mentioned in the specifica-
tion to charge first, that Captain Writz " did keep
and me ferocious and bloodthirsty beasts, danger-
ous to human life, called bloodhounds, to hunt
down prisoners of war aforesaid who made their
escape from his custody," and that a large number
of prisoners " were by the said beasts then and there
cruelly and inhumanely injured, insomuch that 50
died." Also, it is alleged that Wirtz caused the pri-
soners to be inoculated with poisonous matter ; that
he shot one prisoner dead with his own hand ; that
he kicked and others ; that he set blood-
hounds on one prisoner who had not attempted to
escape, and who was so mangled by the dogs that
he died. The evidence will be taken openly and
laid before the world. Captain Wirtz has able counsei
engaged in his defence, and the fullest opportunities
will be given him of obtaining testimony to rebut
the charge brought by the prosecution.
Fears were entertained when the Tredegar Iron-
works were seized at Richmond that a policy of
confiscation was about to be entered upon by the
Government. I informed you at the time that I
had been assured Mr. Johnson's object was merely
to make an example of one or two prominent Con-
federates, and subsequent events have justified this
statement. On Saturday last 37 persons, all of the
po,cloo class," were pardoned by the President.
The majority of iliem belonged to Virginia.

fact, so freely have pardons been bestowed that a
regular trade has sprung up in them in Washington,
and brokers send circulars round the South offering
to get a pardon for any one on receipt of $6OO or
$7OO. This system whs brought to the President's
knowledge last Sunday, and he was so annoyed at it
that he has refused to entertain any fresh applica-
tions at pz esent. He has ordered the " go-betweens"
to be rigorously hunted out, and is much vexed at
having been already imposed upon in so many
instances.
The Boston " regenerators" are again urging Mr.
Johnson not to hasten the work of reconstruction.
The Abolitionists are probably the real originators
of this new crusade against the South, but it cannot
be denied that there is a large class who do not pre-
tend to love the negro as a brother who think the
South is being restored too rapidly. Perhaps this
sentiment was put in a more moderate form than or-
dinarily in a remark made by a shrewd observer of
events :—•" It would be well to give the Southern
people time for calm reflection. The whites and the
blacks should have the opportunity to accustom
themselves to their altered relations, and gradually
the masters would accept their new responsibilities.
A good provisional government and a standing army
sufficient to repress disorder would have been best
for all." The Boston people go further than this.
As in their first address, they cry out for negro suf-
frage, as if that were a panacea for reconciling all
differences of race, class, and station; and argue that
if the masters are not willing now to look upon their
slaves as free labourers, they will be perfectly ready
to do so when the blacks are placed on a political
equality with themselves. This reasoning continues
to be unsatisfactory to moderate men of all parties.
Two circumstances have occurred within the last few
days, which show that there is every disposition to
deal fairly by the negro. One is that in North
Carolina on a trial for murder the evidence of two
black witnesses were received, the Judge overruling
the objections taken by the counsel on the ground
of colour. The other occurred in this city. A
black woman was walking along the street, when
two men pushed her off the path into the road. She
asked what they did that for. They answered be-
cause she was black. They made the same defence
before the magistrate, and it was so unsuccessful
that they were sent for two months each to the
Penitentiary.
Many statements have been made to me with re-
gard to the quantity of cotton now in the South,
but for the most part they seemed so little worthy
of trust that I did not feel justfied in repeating
them. They were generally to the effect that larger
stocks of cotton have been hidden in the South than
was commonly supposed, and the jsupposition is
borne out by the receipts which have latterly taken
place in this market. A published return makes
out that 103,648 bales arrived here during the past
six weeks, and that last week alone 19,404 bales
came in. The same authority, and I believe it to
be a good one, says At New Orleans, on the
11th inst., there were 81,568 bales on hand, with
large daily receipts, and the stock at Mobile is also

considerable, though it is kept down by the defi-

ciency of inland water transport to fetch it from

the interior." It has been estimated that there

were:so,ooo bales in Florida at the close of the war.

Altogether, it is becoming evident that there is more

cotton in the South than people here conjectured,
and, as the means of internal communication aro
.estored, whatever there may be will soon find its

way to market.

Many planters are said to be

sending .down cotton to be warehoused at New
Orleans, dreading the constant raids which are
made upon their property by discharged Confede-

rate soldiers.

Naval and Military Intelligence.

--e - -

In consequence of the retirement of Lieut.-Gen.
Sir John Pennefather from the command of the
Aldershott division several changes in the staff at
that station take place. The undermentioned officers
are struck off the strength of the division :—Brevet-
Co]. J. W. Armstrong, C. 8., Assist.-Adjt.-Gen.,
from the 31stult. ; Capt. P. A. A. Twynam, Deputy-
Assist.-Quartermaster-Gen., from the 31st ult. ;
Col. J. L. Simmons, C.C., commanding . Royal
Engineers, from the 31st ult. inclusive, commencing
from the Ist of September, until further orders ;
Brevet-Lieut.-Col. G. Graham, V.C., Royal Engi-
neers, will perform the duties of Commanding Royal
Engineer at Aldershott. Her Majesty has been
pleased to appoint Lieut:-Col. Edward Newdegate,
half-pay, Depot Battalion, to be Assist. -Adj t.- Gen.
of the Aldershott division, vice Brevet-Col. J. W.
Armstrong, C.B.

The F battery, 9th Brigade, Royal Artillery, left
Aldershott on Friday, and proceeded by train to
Shoeburyness, in order to go through the annual
course of gunnery. They will relieve D battery, B
Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery, which returns to
the camp.

On Wednesday the Ist brigade at Aldershott,
under Major.-Gen. D. Russell, prior to marching for
field manoeuvres, was formed into square on the
Queen's parade, and medals for long service and
good conduct were presented to Privates Corcoran,
Grennon, and Attenborough, 31st Regiment, and
to Sergt. J. Carr, Privates Leech, Fort, Lever,
M'Adam, Ryan, and Kirk, 69th Regiment. Major-
Gen. Russell, in presenting the medals, addressed
some excellent remarks to the men on the good
effects of sobriety, complimented the recipients upon
their conduct, and, dismounting, pinned the honorary
distinctions to their breasts.

A notification has been received at Chatham Gar-
rison from the Horse Guards announcing that the
prize rolls on account of the second distribution of
prize money for the operations and capture of Luck-
now have been received, and the distribution of all
officer's and men's share will commence at Chelsea
Hospital this morning. The following are the rolls
which have been received, viz. :—Royal Horse and
Foot Artillery; Royal Engineers, 32cl Light In-
fantry, 80th Regiment,.BBth Connaught Rangers,
and the 93d Sutherland Highlanders. Soldiers still
serving must apply through the officer commanding
their regiment or depot. The order states that the
claims sent in will be investigated as early as pos-
sible in the order of date in which they are received,
and an answer sent, without the necessity of again
applying on the subject.
The following are the outlines of the new regula-
tions which will be introduced on the reconstruction
of the Military Store Department, now on the eve
of being accomplished. The headquarters, as for-
merly, will be at Woolwich. The nucleus of the
corps will be denominated the military store staff,
and the subordinates will be composed of volunteers
from the regular army. The non-commissioned
officers will be appointed to the subordinate posts,
as clerks, writers, book-keepers, foremen, time-
keepers, &c., while private soldiers volunteering for
the service will fill the grades of wharfingers, maga-
zine men, labourers, &c. By this arrangement the
military store department is destined to maintain an
equally important position with that of the sister
service—the commissariat. The entire corps will
then be available to take and hold the field with the
army in the event of any sudden emergency, and
will be strictly amenable to military discipline, and
under the articles of war.
The iron-cased corvette Favourite, 10, 2,094 tons,
400-horse power nominal, Capt. F. H. Shortt, is get-
ing well forward with her fittings in the steam-
basin at Sheerness, but several months' work still
requires to be effected on board before she is out of
hand and ready for the pennant. She has shipped
her iron lower masts, which are hollow, so as to
serve as ventilators between the decks. The riggers
are now at work, setting up her wire standing
rigging. The fore and aft iron swing-gates, de-
signed by Mr. Reed, and fitted in the first instance
to the iron-cased ship Research, are completed and
fixed, and from the trials made with them they are
found to work very satisfactorily. The gates open