Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-08-30


"OLp CAPITOL PKsox. WAsHIserox, D. c..
August %, 1865 Col. N. p. Chapman, Judge
/ Advocate Military Commission:-I most re-
/ specially AJAX the Com mission ss q favor to
me to receive nv counsel, Nessrs Sehade
aud Baker. as I understand that on nv most
ferveni entreaties, they have consented again TO
appear for me They understand nv whole
case and know nv Witnesses and papers.
Hoping that the Commission will grant my re-
quest. / sign myself. most respectfully,
Your obedien, servant,
II WERTz. Late Capt. and A. A. G., C S.A
Major General Wallace said If there was no
4 objection. the gentlemen would be sent for. No
objection being made, and the Commission being
disposed to afford every proper means for de-
| Tense an orderly was dispatched for Messrs. Ba-
ker and Schade.
The Court was then cleared for about three
quarters Of an hour, and when the doors were
opened, the record OF Yesterday was read Messrs
Baker and Schade again appeared in Court as
counsel for Weriz.
The room wa. more crowded than heretofore
with spectators. many women being in the
crowd.
DR.. J. G. ksiz was called. and being examine
by Assistant Judge Advocate Hosner, testified
be was Cd duty at Andersonville He was under
the immediate charge of DR.. Stevenson The
hospital in q deplorabie condition, there
being not q sufficient supply of tents and hunks.
There were no comforts. He was told there
were between thirty and forty thousand prison
ers there. He did not have much difficulty in
mixing the medicines. except in few of the
rarer articles. The men presented the most
horrible spectacle he ever saw. A large number
OF them were affected with the worst forms Of
scurvy. He attributed the sickness to long con
hnement, exposure and the absence Of the com
Sorts OF life. There we're maggots in the swamp
near the hospital, the malaria from which had
had the most fatal effect upon the patients The
insects, or white ants, with wings, were such as
result from decayed animal and vegetable
matter; they were SO numerous that it was dan
gerous for man to open his mouth at all The
witness heard that there dead line and one
OF his patients was killed, but he did not see
him shot. The witness stated the circumstances
under which the prisoners were when Wertz had
had command OF them; and while be was in tie
administration OF his duties as a Surgeon, all
the soldiers came 10 the conclusion that Wertz
had full authority over the prison under General
Winder; he had seen the Chief Clerk, James
bucked, aud inquired the reason. and was in
formed that the punishment was inflicted by order
of Captain WertI
Gross examined by Mr. Baker-The hospital
fund about which he had testified, and with
which delieacies for the sick we're purchased, was
In existence when he went to Andersonvie
and during the month of February or March last
so,OOO in Confederate money was drawn from
the fund, at that time a one dollar greenback
would purchase $50 of Confederate money: was
al Edwardsylle six months, aud this bucking was
the ouly instance of severity ne had seen; the
medical condition OF the hospital was better
after DR.. Clayton came there; Capt. Wertz exer-
cl2sd no more influence over the former
physicians than he did over DE- Clayton
At one o'clock the Court took a recess until
two o'clock
On reassembling, DR. Avenderkiei testified
that ne vas on duty at Annapolis from May 26.
1868, to May %, 1865 He attended to more
than 2,OOO returned prisoners from Anderson
vile. They we're suffering from chronic diarrhea
scurvy, and other diseases. Some we're In
dying condition, and others had to be treated in
The hospital before they acquired strength to be
taken home The disease from which death en-
sued more than from other causes was darrhea
This resulted from insufficient and improper
food Very little attention paid TO their
dtloD at Andsrsonville He was shown the pho
tographs OF living skeletons, and said he had
seen many of the prisoners returning in the same
condition.
Cross-eIamined by Mr.. Baker-He knew off
cially that the men were from AndersOnvile and
had seen nen reduced to the condition represen-
ted III the photographs. Witness regularly
educated IN Germany as physician.
Martin {. Hogan testified as to his having
been prisoner at Andersonville- The men
there were III q miserable condition, az bad as
it possibly could be; the men were so thick that
they could scarcely elbow their way; some lay in
their own filth, calling for water and crying for
food. but no attention was paid them. He also
testified TO the miserable quality of the food, its
Injurious effects, such as half baked corn bread
which was sour, and the beef, whep il was furn-
ished. was OF an inferior quality. Men affected
with the scurvy would crawl upon the ground
the sight was horrible: very many were insult
hcienily clad and had no shelter. As TO hounds,
he was brought back TO prison by their agency
de had seen Wertz with hounds trying to strike
the track Of an escaped prisoner. For attempting
10 escape from prison, about the Sth OF October
1864, after the most obscene abuse from Capt.
WertZ, he was fastened by the neck and feet and
remained there Sc hours. He had heard Capt
Weriz give orders he should not have food, but
he did get food from some OF his comrades, who
stole it for him He bad three comrades
put in the stocks at the same time. One man
was put IN because he asserted his manhood by
resenling the abuse of Confederate soldier
When the prisoners were being removed from
Andersonvlle TO Nilen, the witness saw Wertz
take by the collar because he could not
walk faster, the man being so worn out ne could
not walk faster, throwing the man Oh hi. back,
he stamped upon him with his feet. He the
man bleeding and hs died short time alter
Several witnesses testified to the deplorable
condition Of the prisoners, the evidence in some
respects being similar to that heretofore given.
The Court. at quarter past 4, adjourned.