Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1865-11-18

commission for his connection Win 'he c"''
prisoners at Andersonvlle, was executed ID
the yard of the Old Capital prison on fFiuay
last the 10th inst. He conversed with those on
the scaffold with seeming cIinhess' 10 MS
spiritual adviser he said: Il am innocent
have TO die but die like man. nave nope
in the future, have nothing more to say" IN
few moments more the drop fell. HIS neck
was broken by the fall.
wIRz LETTER TO HIS FAMILY.
Old Capitol Prison. :
Washington, d g., Nov. 10, 1863 )
Nv Dearest Vile aud Chldren.-
When these lines reach you the hand who
wrote them will be stuff and cold. In a
fe W hours from now | shall be dead.
Oh, if could express myself as | wish,
if could tell you what | have suffered
when thought about you and the chill
dren! | must leave you. without The
means TO live, 10 the miserIes OF cold,
cruel world. Llse, do mol grleve, 90 not
despair; we will meet again IN a better
world. Console yourself; hlnk as do
that die innocent. Who knows better
than YOU that all these tales of cruelIes
and murders are Infamous lies, and Why
should no, say il! A great many DO
call me hard.hearied, because tell them
that | am not gully, that have nothing
10 confess. Oh, tank iol moment no"
the thought that | must suffer and die IN
nocent must sustain NE IN The last Terri
Bile hour; that when shall stand before
my Maker can say, "Lord, OF these
things you know am not guilty. | have
sinned often, and rebelled against hee.
Oh. let my unmeried death be an atone
menl." Lss. die reconclIed. | die, as
hope, as Christian. This is His no.
ly will that should die, and therefore let
Us say with Chrsl, "Thy will, y Lord
be done.
hardly know whalto say. Oh, let
me beg you, do not give away to despair.
Think lhat am gone to my Father, TO
Your Father, 10 the Father OF all, anG
that there hope to meet you. Live Tor
The dear chillrcn, ph, do lake care oil 20
ra. Kiss her Tor ne. Kiss Susan and
Corneia, and tell them 10 live SO IhaI
We may ace, ain in the heavens above
the skies; tell Them that my last thoughts,
my last prayer, shall be for them.
You ark me abou, Cora's schooling.
Ny dear wife, you must do now as yon
think best. In regard TO your going to
Europe. | would advise you 10 wall IN
til YOU bear from them. | have written
to nv father; if he should be dead, my
brother, hope. is still alive. | send
YOU his address. You had better get
certificate of our marriage; also OF Cora's
birth, and have it approved before mag
i,trate. If you should 90 to Europe you
would need il. shall hand 'hIo letter TO
Mr.. Sehade, v no will send II to you with
some other papets aud books; i"Is Is al
| can leave you. God give You what
you stand in need Of, aad grant that you
all so live Ihat when yon die, you can
say. Lord lhou callesl me, here ! am.
And now farewell, wife. chlldIen. all,
will and must close; farewell, farewell,
God be with Us.
Your unfortunate husband and father,
Il. WlRZ.
THE LAST LETTER OF CAPTAIN WIRZ.
The following letter was written by
Wiz before mounting the galIows:
Old Capitol Prison, Nov. 10, 1865.
Mr.. Schade- Dear Silt is no doubt
the las, time that will address myself 10
you. What, / have said to you, often and
of,en,I repeat. Accept my thanks, my
sincere, heartfelt thanks. for all you have
done for me. May God reward you; |
cannot. Sill have something more 10
ask of you, and am confident that you
will not refuse 10 receive my dying re-
quest. Please help my poor family
my dear wife and children. War, cruel
war, has swept everything from me, and
to-day my wife,my children, are beggars.
Nv life is demanded as an a,onement ]
am willing TO give 1t, and | hope that after
while will be Judged differently from
wha, | am now. If any one ought TO
come 10 the relief Of my family i. is The
people of the South, for whose sake |
have sacrificed all. know you will ex-
cuse me for troubling you again.
Farewell, dear sir, may God bless you.
Your thankful, H. WlRZ.
mig Dear Uift:-This Bible / send
TO YOU. You see the marks where | left
of reading. God bless you. Keep this
Bible TO remember me.
III. WIRZ."