Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1865-12-08
SON. ABBEVI1LE S. c.. FRIDAY, DECEMBER g. 1865
CAPT. WIRES LAST LETTER TO HIS wIFa,.

The late Captain Wirz, in hss incom-
plcte diary, under date of October lst,
says that man was at that. time placed in
his cell to prevent any attempt he might
make to take his own life, out the man
I'll asleep. IIe writes that tho>reason he
d not put all end to his existence vas
'ecause what be suffered VAS the will 5f
God; and, in tho second place, he owed it
20 himself, his family and his relatives, and
to the world at large, to prove his inno-
ceuce. AS an evidence of the affection
and education Of Wirz we append his
letter, written just on the owe of execu+
ton:
OLD CArIToL PnIsoN,
WAsIISoToN, d. c., Nov. 10, 1865.
My Dearest feand Children: When
these lines reach you, the hand which wrote
them will he stiff and cold. III few hours
from now shall be dead. Ol,,if could
express nyse :. wish, if could tell
you what have suffered when l thought
about you and the children! must leave
you, without the means 10 live, to the mis-
cries of cold, cruel world. Lse do'not
grieve, do not despair; we will meet again
in a better world. Console yourself;
think as I do-that de innocent. Who
knows better than you that all these tales
of cruelties and murders are Infamous lies,
and Willy should. l not say it.? A great
many DO call me hard hearted, because
tell them that am not guilty, that L have
nothing to confess. Oh, think for n mo.
ment how the thought that t must suffer
and die innocent must sustain me in the
last terrible hour; that when I shall stand
before my Maker can say, "Lord, of those
things you know I am not guilty. I have
sinned often, and rebeled against Thee.
Oh, let my 0pmcrited death be an atone
ment." Lise, die rcconcilcd. die as l
hope. as Christian. This is 4Iis holy
will, that should die, and therefore let
us say with Christ, "Thy will, o Lord, be
hardly know what to say. Oh; let me
beg you, do not give away to despair.
Think that am gone to my, Father. to
your Father, to the Father Of all, and that
there hope to meet you. Live for the
dear children. Oh, do take good care of
Cora, kiss Der for mo. Kis, Susan ana
Connella, and iell them to live so that we
may meet again in tho Heaven above the
skies tell them that my last thoughts, my
last prayer, shall be for them.
You ask me about Coras schooling. NV
dear wife you must do now as you think
best. In regard to your going to Europe,
would advise you TO wait until you hear
from them. have written to my father :;
iiff lie should be dead, my brother, hope is
still alive. I send you his address,. You
had better get a certificate Of our mar
riage, nlso, Of Coras. birth, and have it
approved before a magistrate. If you
should 60 to Europe you wonld need it.
shall band this letter to NJ. Schade, who
will send it ro you with some other papers
and Loe:s; this is all I can leave you !;
but no, can leave you something more,
something better; my blessing. God bless
you all and protect you. God give you
what you stand in need Of and grant that
you all so live that when you die, you can
| say, Lord thou callest me, here am.
And now farewell, wife, children, all, will
and must close; farewell, farewell, God be
with lib.
Your unfortunate husband and father;
Fl. WIRz.