Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-10-04
THE wIRZ TRIAL.
PROCEEDINGS THIS MORNING.

morning, A. Noesney, 10th Connecticut, was
called for the defense, and testified that he was
detailed in Capt Wirz's Office, took orders 70
stoekade, and carried the money reports 10
Winder acquisitions were made out every
day, stating number Of prisoners, number OF
rations left blank Every morning a list OF
number of rations 10 each detachment WAS
made ont, which witness took TO Duncan. Wit
ness did not recollect that the rations for the
whole camp were ever stopped Sometimes
the rations OF a squad were stopped when a
man was missing, but If a man was reported
sick. or escaped, the rations were returned.
Boxes from the North arrived about three
times, some from the Sanitary Commission.
Some Of the boxes remained outside the stock
ade, and witness was informed that the men TO
whom they were sent could not be found, or
were dead. The contents Of the second lot re-
ceiyed We're given by Ii. DAVIS, then in CON-
mand, to the men outside the stockade. The third
lot was received in November. and were taken
TO the store house near Virus Office. Wirz
sent down for all the paroled men, about $50,
and each got suit Of clothes, except shoes
About GO pairs ofshoes were received and given
"a men not in need of them. Some colored men
got clothing. Witness knows of Confederates
having bought clothing from Union prisoners,
but don't know of Wirz ever taking any thing
from the prisoners. Stonemans raiders Were
searched near Castle Read, under orders i
Winder. On one occasion an officer brought 20
Wirz a number of watches taken from the
prisoners, and Wirz said he had nothing 10 do
with them and directed that they be returned.
Witness recolects that Duncan said to Wirz
that the prisoners complained Of water, and
Wirz directed him TO give the men tools 10 dig
wells and barrels 10 curb with. The tools Were
frequently broken by the prisoners. There
were 10 or 80 little boys in the stockade, and
WirZ asked DIR. White to take some of the
boys nurses, saying that they would die il
kept i'm the stockade; that they were not
properly prisoners OF war, and he would If
he could send them through the lines.
Wirz took the boys out and sent them to the
bospitaI TO assist IN nursing, cooking, and some
TO pick blackberries for the sick. DIR. White
u.
not been yaccinated should be vaccinated.
Once man was brought before Wirz because
he would not submit to be vaccinated. Wrz
replied that it was White who gave the order,
not him, and he had nothing 10 do with il, they
might die with small poN, for what he cared
Witness recollects that there were two chain
gangs formed by order of Gen. Winder. The
men were sent TO the Provost Marshal by
Winder 10 be- put in the chain gang. Witness
recollects, .'Frcnchy," who escaped seven
times. The last time "Erenchy" was
brought back his pants We're torn, and
was placed under special guard. Witness
rCcollscts that the Federal sergeants We're sent
for by Wrz, who informed them that he I'M
derstood that the prisoners had made arrange
ments for an outbreak; that he knew all about
their tunnelling: that he had orders from Win
der 10 open with grape and canister, but he
did not want 10 shed blood The sergeants
then went back, and they asked next day If
they could not draw petition to send TO
Washington. Winder gave permission, and
Wirz sent in paper TO them. A special ex-
change was arranged. and the petition sent Off
Virus right arm was crippled, but he could
use il in writing. The chain gang had a large
fly tent. Witness knows of rebel sergeants
having been put under arrest. Witnesses ra-
tons were piece of beef, corn bread, rice. Wit
ness had extra rations and sold them TO Wirz
for 20 cents per day in Confederate money.
Never heard of Wirz beating or killing a man
while at Hndersonville The stocks were not
inside the prison; witness has been in them.
Sometimes the prisoners arriving would be ]
sick In July number of wounded arrived.
WirZ would not receive them. Witness knows
thai some OF the prisoners (hospital attend
ants sCrenaded Wirz, Drs. White and Ste
VonSon
Cross examined by Col Chipman.-winess
is native OF Germany, arrived in 1852, entered
the army two or three months after his arriy al.
Witness was captured at Atlanta with his
whole company. Witness wrote 4 letter to
WirZ stating that he could speak, read, and
write the German. Italian, and French Ian
guages, and recommended himselfas clerk.and
WirZ took him out. Witness had TO do his duty
TO WiTz, made copies for him. Witness would
have refused to have done any duty 10 the con-
.tederate government. Witness always took the
acquisitions directly 10 the commissary from
WIrz' office. The reason witness sold the extra
ration was because he could. with the money,
buy vegetables, &c. Witness does not know of
The ration being stopped on the fourth of July.
WirZ stopped the rations for squads, divisions
of ninetys when man was missing, until the
surgeon reported the missing man in some way
NirZ had power To stop and issue the rations
and when he was absent some of the clerks
would order rations to be issued, Martin
signing by order of Captain WirZ. VIM
never exercised control over the hospital.
The second time boxes came was in August
aQS I,9e contents were distributed TO those out
sfdI. They were not sent outside because il
. was found thar the men would scramble. Wit
ness sold his watch, gold locket, which he
brought inside the stockade. A man named
Spring told witness he had made $50 by ira
ding with the prisoners. Witness never saw
prisoners searched in front Of Virus head
quarters. One of the boys taken out of the
stockc de by Wirz was at the office. Witness
knows all the orders in relation TO the chain
gang came from Wnder.
Judge Advocate Chapman asked as TO the or
der OF Winder in relation TO the chain-gang.
The witness was proceeding TO speak on some
other matter, and had commenced on a differ
ent subject entirely.
Col Chapman as ked the witness 20 answer
Mr.. Baker wished his witness 10 explain.
and asked the witness TO stop at the point he
was then on.
The Judge Advocate proceeded with his
: crosS-e examination.
Mr.. Baker said that he had asked the Judge
Advocate to stop, and if he. was not treated
properly he would not put any witness on the
stand. fE
General Geary thought the counsel should
have more sense. He, for one, was getting
tired of the course of the counsel. The Court
had been threatened at every turn. The coun-
sci had not yet put any of his threats into exc
cution. This kind of proceeding must he
stopped, and he, for one, would submit to it no
longer AZ
Mr.. Baker said he had not threatened the
Court.
General Geary.-Why do you say that you
will put no more Witnesses on the stand
Mr.. Baker, asked the Judge Advocate TO
stop, and he paid no attention. If he is to be
treated thus there is but little use of the defense
putting any other witnesses on the stand.
The Court here instructed Mr.. Baker that he
should always make his objection to the Cont.
The ss-examinaton was resumed-Wit-
ness was present when n Surgeon brought a
man in who refused to be yaccinated Wirz
said he did not care a d-n il they all died of
the smallpox. There was no chain gang after
July, il only was in operation during that
month Witness never heard of a man dying
IN the chain gang or stocks, or OF Wirz shoot
ing or beating man; or any other except
Frenchy being torn by the hounds. Wirz was
sick during August, and was not on duty from
about the 4th to 30th. Witness was sent for to
be a witness in the case by Sergeant Major
kellogg