Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1865-10-05
LOCAL AFF An -.
THE TRIAL OF HENRY wIRz

THE TRIAL OF HENRY WIRE.
On yesterday, after our report closed, the ex-
animation Of GBoRaB W. FgcHSoR was continued.
He testified that he had large quantities of tobac
co. which Was purchased directly from the adju-
tant He would purchase roots and herbs from
detailed men in the hospital, and from paroled
men,. The grapes and apples were sometimes
purchased from the adjutant, but they could go
out when they wanted TO, by paying - TO the
sergeant at the gam. and they would then go Ave
ing merchants in the stockade, and good over
coat sold for ~, and shoes for ~ and g. Money
brokers did . thriving business buying and SELL
Ing greenbacks and gold and silver, and they
vonid also deal in bounty certificates, bank
cheeks and watches. They gave thirty per cent.
for q bounty certificate. Al one time there were
at least half million dollars in greenback In the
stockads. The stockade was also supplied with
barber shops. The prisoners who were brought
to the prison In July were in a healthy condi.
tion, and we'll clad, and had large quantity Of
Rreenbaoks with them.
The Matchmaker also did good business In
tiae repair Of watches and jewelry In one store
witness saw upwards Of fifty watches placed
there for repair, and the matchmaker employed a
iourneyman. They worked in a tent-thAt is, n
blanket spread over poles. There were thirty
pole merchants who brought In and sold poles
for tent purposes. The poles were brought In by
the working squads. The bakers conducted their
business by purchasing wood Of the wood NOR
chants, Of whom there were quite number.
They would also purchase wood Of the different
messes who would sell 1t. The tailors were al
ways busy making pants Of sacks stolen from the
commissary wagon. A prisoner would fire.
ouentiy desire q change, and would have pair
Of pants made. There was extensive trading
with the guards over the stockade. Witness
store was q shanty, made Of boards, and he had
dug cellar for 1t. The working parties would
bring In the boards. There were at least three
thousand Of these buildings, and probably
ous half Of the stockade inside Of the dead line
had bpildings upon Il,
The pyisoners owned the land on which their
tents were. and there were sgents for the sale OF
lots Witness bought two lots, and put shauty
H ON one. The boards were purchased from lum :
her merchants, OF which there were number.
Tho stookade also HAD an organised gang OF gam :
bier. and some detached gamblers and chuck "a
luck dealers. Faro, seven-up, and other games
were played, and good deal OF monsy was lost
and won There was great suffering among the
prisoners By reason Of the Sn w aO one ne
Audersonyiils he found he could live very we'll
on the rations which were issued. The whole
camp was never deprived Of rations for whole
day, bat detaohments were sometimes deprived
OF them. Tho wells and tunnels were dug with
knives tin pans, shovels with the handles burnt
out, &c The candles were obtained In small
quantities only, as they were contraband.
The AdIutant was outside the stockade, but he
had q board shanty inside and two men to attend
to It. He had -four, beans, rice, onionst &C., for
sale. Witness saw probably hyo hundred men
with sore arm. No man need have been vac
cinated unless he desired Il, as the rebel SER
geant asked II there were any who were not vac
cinated, and II was optional with every prisoner
syhether he replied or not. No one was com
fslled to submit to be yaccnated When Capt.
sElrr brought the raiders who were condemned
% he bHl into the stoekade, he said to the prs-
ouers that they were all in an enemy's country,
and mot to bang the men II they could avoid 1t,
but that II they must, to do 1t, and he hoped God
would have mercy on al ,ne,r Souls rneTe
the stockade, and ths supply OF water was
always plentiful, and after the month OF June 1t
was good aud clear The deepest wells were
dug for companies, and there were stockholders
The money was used to pay guards for pro.
tectipg the wells from those who had no right to
the water. The water was drawn up by buck
cts. Six were issued to each squad OF ninety,
and besides, there were buckets for sale. There
was a man In the stoekads who manufactured
bogus greenbacks. The manpfaeture o. them
was counter anced, as they were nearly all passed
upon the guards. The letter box vas a. the
south gate, and whenever 1t was full II wouls DO
opened and the name Of each prisoner for whom
there was letter would be called out. witness
mad seem Captain Wirz come into tho stOckade
several times. NeyDr knew or heard OF MS
killing or beating a prisoner. witness eltel'
lated about the stockade great deal inueea'
he was gong nearly all the time, 49,.
z ross.exAmined by Col. Chipman witness was
living at Cincinnati Ohio, before he entered the
service ati Lagrange, Kentucky, In the "a hep
lucky mounted infantry, In September, 1867, ana
was captured the same month at New Castle
Kentucky. Was an acting second lieutenant
Never received any pay or bounty from the COY
srnment. There were only twenty men 10 WI
four In the whole regiment The tegimeut ives
nnorgauiIed, and was on Its way to Central Ken
lucky for recruits. They were surrounded by
rebel guefhllas and went into the hght morgan
dEed All had muskets-ohicers and all Wit
ness and his regiment were hghting equal mum
bers, and fought one hour, but were finally
Obliged to surrender. No one Of witnesses reg
Tneuf was killed or wounded In the hght. Col.
Norris was colonel OF the regiment
Oh rebel soldier claimed that he recognized wit
ness, and they arrested him as spy. They took
from witness fac smile OF Confederate money
and a parole. The parole was not to take up arms
against the Confederacy while the rebels were In
Kentucky. Witness had been to Lexington look
Ing for work when the rebels took the place Was
a eoachmakeT by trade. Before leaving Cincin-
natl tried to obtain work, but failed to do So.
Had applied to J. and b. Bruce and others there.
ana had nothing with him but his clothes.
Started business there by selling his daily rations
Of corn bread for tan cents, and subssted on the
balance Of his ration, which was bacon and pint
Of boiled beans. About the 10th Of June wi tness
purchased thirteen dozen eggs, At S3.l5 per dozen
Purchased them ION tick. !" That could DO done
there among men Of honor, and witness always
considered himself man Of honor wherever he
Witness ala not rob any one. Always oonsid
cred 1t consistent with honor to trade with any
money he made to his friends When he left
AndsrsonyIlle, on August 9th, he had $500 Ia
greenbacks. At one time had 5000. Witness
purchased and sold nour, beans, peas, potatoes,
apples, butter, onions sorghum syrup, &c. Had
., purchased two barrels Of sorghum. Flour wa,
go per sack, aud witness purchased q sack each
lay aud some days his sales Of -four amou nted
70 ii, 600 Potatoes were $50 per sack, and onions
$50 per sack, They were purchased Of the post
adjutant. Witness bought onions and potatoes
daily.
without concluding tho cross -oxami nation OF
this witness, the Commission adjourned until IL
O'Clock this morning.
PnnLLo SCaooLs-PENMANSnIr. last