Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1865-09-08
Trial Of Henry Wirz.
MIR. wIRz. DESIRES PRAYERS,
Tho OHcial Papers.of The. Aader-
SonYille Prison. 4.
Sanitary Condition Of AndersOnyille Pen.
FIFT ZENITH DAY.
OMITTED STATES MILITARY COMMISSION


The Commission for the trial Of wirI, met this
morning at ten o'clock, all the members ptescu,
the Judge Advocates and the Counsel for the ac
cused A few minutes past ten o'clock the prls.
oner was brought into Court, looking much in.
disposed. He was shown to his usual seat by
the side Of Mr.. Schade.
After the reading Of the testimony Of yesterday
Colonel Chapman said he had received letter
from the prisoner this morning, which he read.
It is as follows:
OLD CAPITOL PRISON,
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Sept. s, 1865. I
Col. ". p. Chapman, Judge Advocate, a. ID. c.:
You will, hope, excuse my liberty to address
you these lines, bnt not knowing to whom to
prisoner since the eth day Of May, 1856. have
been deprived Of all the chances to receive the
consultations Of religion-oonsolations ever neces
sary to anybody, and truly more so to a nCI
charged with crimes so heinous, so terrible 90.
the mere thought Of them makes me shudlc,
Although ! know myself, full well, that am
wrongfullv accused, that an all seeing and all
knowing God knows my innocence, still ! need
some encouragement from others not to sink un-
der the heavy burden which Is placed upon me.
Under these circumstances l moe respectfully
ask that permission be granted to Rev. Fathers
Wheelan and Hamilton to visit me aud admins.
ter to me such spiritual comfort ~ my unfortu-
nate position requires. They are both men OF In =
tegrity, and will not proht by the occasion to see
mo to do anything but what their duty as minis
ters Of the Gospel will permit. r.r.
Hoping that this, my humble request, may be
fayorably received, and the permission be grant
cd, remain, Colonel, most respectfully,
Your obedient servant, II. WIRE.
Colonel Chapman said with permission Of the
Court, he would issue a pass to those gentlemen
to visit the prisoner. They were both witnesses
here for the prosecution, and had been chaplains
at Andersonville In the summer Of 1854. He
thought they would not abuse the privilege asked
by the prisoner.
General Wallace said as far as the Court was
concerned they had no objections. But they bad
nothing to do with the prisoner when lie was out
Of Court. The communication was referred to
the War Department with q favorable recon-
mendation.
Cen. Thomas said that II the prisoner was sick
/. might not be a question whether they could not
get along better by granting little respite. 1t
mig ht be desirable to have a days r~st
Assistant Judge Advocate Hosmer said, SO far
as the comfort Of the prisoner Is concerned, he
would be better of in the courtroom than in
prison. II he was not able to stand up he could
lie down, and arrangements would be made ior
him to lie down. II he was i'll, aud required
medical aid all the time OF course the trial could
not go on.
The testimony was here commenced.
PRESCOTT TRACY
testified that he had been prisoner at Anderson
willie. Captured on the 22d OF June, 1854. Was
put in the stockade by Captain WirI Heard the
prisoner give orders to shoot mau. II was dur
ing the month Of August. His name was Rob-
erts. He was new prisoner and did not know
the regulations He went to the brook to get a
drink; slipped and FELL in; his head went over
the dead line. Wirz hallooed at tho sentry,
" God d-n your soul why don't you shoot that
Yankee son Of a b-h.h The senty fred and
killed the man. Had seen men In the stocks W. 0
died shortly after they were taken out He'd
n comrade who died OF starvation. Witness once
asked wirz for rations. Wirz said Cd d-n
you. III ration you In hell TIE prisoner
always carried revolver. Prisoners were nut
In the socks with their faces towards the IL.
one day from another. They had nothing ~
which to designate the days. Some OF the pr :
ouers lin the squad sof witness tunuelled out,
but were caught by Capt Wirz with the hounds,
were then stopped. Four of those who tunnelled
out were put In the stocks. There wee eight
engaged In tuunelling out. The socks were
about five feet ten inches long, aud In them was
room for two men. Witnc7S said he made mis-
AXE, only two were put in the stocks; the others
were let go. They were put in about elcyel
, clock in the morning, and kept in until he
next morning; that is, two hours in aud two
posite the north gate. Witness had seen the
men put In the stocks. The guard put them q
hc stocks. The stocks were brought in the
'tockade, and then taken out again when the men
were released from them.
BY the Court: Witness did not know what
lime the men were put in the stocks. Had no
means of telling. Could only guess at It. Did
not Know OF watch In the stockade. Wirz had
taken them all from the prisoners
wM. RRoUsE
Testified that he had been a prisoner at Ander-
sOnville from May 20 September, 1861 Saw W;rz
knock prisoner down. Had seen men in the
socks Saw one die the day after he came out.
He had been In tie stocks about two weeks
witness knew the time when the six raiders
were hung. 1t was two or three days before that
the men who had bc'n In the stocks died.
G Witness had seen nen die from vaccination.
Sore had their arms amputated. Had been %
the depot. Had seen the rebels wearing c'O.lcy
sent by the Sanitary Commission; knew Tal.
named Robinson In the Goth Pennsylvania cav
AIRY, who was shot In the head by a sentry; fe
Cross examined Tho man who died s.ter he
'Tas taken out the stocks was very hearty man
ueiore he was put In the stocks. Capt Wirz l..
narSe OF the place saw twenty prisoners who
I'D been vaccinated die from the effects Of the
vaccination.
Colonel Chipman stated that It would be shown
hat higher officers were enGaGcd d In the spiracy
with WirZ TO murder aud starye our prisoners,
and who were alike guilty with him.
GAIT. C. N. sELPH
Testified that he rad beeu Captain and Assistant
AdJutant Geaeralin he Confederate army. Knew
me hAldWrilil9 O. Howell Cobb. IW-tness was
here shown letter, and Identified the hand
writing as that Of Howell Cobb. It is Rs fol-
lows
HEADarAGTREs GEoEGIA RRsgRvEs,(
MACON, GA, May j, 1885. |
Geli, S. CHOPPER, 4dJ't Gen, Richmond, Vd,:
CENERAl: Under your order to inform myselr |
II the condition OF the prison at Andersonyille |
with aview of furnishing from The Reserve Corps
Inc necessary guard for Il protection apd safety
made u visit there, aud have Just returned, |
inG now submit the result Of my examination. |
There are hOw in the prison about IL 900 pTis- |
'ueis Ia an area Of less than eighteen acres with
l stockade around II about ID feet high. pee
'ume the character Of the prison Is well under
'lOod at Richmond, and therefore give no do |
'CripIlon OF 1t. The danger OF the prisoners es-
'Rnng Is not so great ES have supposed. with |
guard OF 200 men, Our pieces Of rtillery, and |
! cryalry company, =" apprehension Of escape |
would be quieted. have arranged to send two |
'egiments of infantry there within the peNt |
week, which, with the detached companies Of |
'OlOuel Person y regiment, will he an ample In
\ autry force. Captain Candles battery is
iere, bnt would recommend that 1t be returned
o Florida, and Captain Tilers battery sent In its
,lace.
The reason mainly for this recommendation is
hat Captain CANDLES battery is very well sup
lied with horses, aud they are not needed Ut An
e:sOuyllle whereas Captain Tillar . horses have
''2n 10 reduced that ha Is unable to move his
cry In lhe led. The exchange of these bat
-es would be Of decided advantage TO the ser.
1859.
| 2commend the cavalry company because It's
presence would have asalutary effect in restrain
ny the prisoners from auy attempt to escane |