Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1865-09-11
Trial Of Henry Wirz.
ENTH DAY.
UNITED STATES MILITARY COMMISSION
GIN. LEW. WALLACE, President,
Cor. N p CuIpnAN .,-..-

UNITED STATES MILITARY COMMISSION
GES. LEW. WALLACE, President,
SGl; SsJ y, !; ( cHlrs,s, HUs.s, Judge Advocates.
The proceedings to-day were resumed by read
ing Of the voluminous testimony of Saturday by
Mr.. HAYES.
The courtroom was densely crowded and un-
comfortably hot.
The prisoner appeared much depressed.
At the conclusion Of the reading Of the testi-
mony, which was flushed at ll.65,
Mr.. Baker, the counsel for the prisoner, said
that bis client could show an ample defence II he
could get proper witnesses, and he invoked the
Court to send for witnesses, and hoped that q
man would be dispatched for that purpose by the
Government
The counsel for the prisoner said there were
some eight or ten important witnesses The wit
nesses near here they would attend to at their
own expense.
Judge Advocate Chapman hoped no expense
would be allowed to stand in the way Of the
furtherance Of this object, aud he felt sure that
every effort had been made for that purpose.
Mr.. Baker said that there were several things
developed on this trial that rendered It essen
tally necessary to have these witnesses for the
defence, and he hoped some proper person would
be sent to the South at tho expense Of the Govern
ment to summon the witnesses.
[The court was then cleared for deliberation. ]
On the reopening Of the doors, the Judge Ad-
vocate, Col. Chapman, inquired II the court would
make known Its decision as regards to sending
for the Witnesses.
The Court said that the prisoner should make
an AFFIDAVIT showing the number, names, and the
locality OF the prisoners witnesses, and some
guarantee that they could be found
Mr.. Baker hoped that some time be granted for
the purpose Of making that affidavit, and hoped
that the court would adjourn for some days to
allow him to make out some papers that would
be important on this trial.
Mr.. Baker, in answer to q question, stated
that 1t would take some two or three days to
draw up the affidavit.
The Judge Advocate called the attention Of the
Court in regard to some remarks made by the
counsel for the defence, and called upon the re
porter to read from his short hand notes.
The remarks alluded to by the Judge Advo-
cate were to the effect that force had been
used to intimidate some Of the witnesses.
The Judge Advocate denounced the remarks
made as false, and wished to have the matter in
vestigated at once; and moved that an inveSti-
gatory committee be formed for that purpose.
The Court wished the counsel for the defence
would retract
Mr.. Baker said that there was no intention to
say anything derogatory to any member Of the
Court.
The Court would give Mr.. Baker until to-mor.
row morning to nnd out the name OF the witness
or witnesses.
MAJOR GENERAL J. n WILSON,
recalled and sworn. Was commissary in Georgia
and Tennessee in 1861 the supplies were good
and sufficient In all sections-were sufficient to
feed 1000 men. Had examined the locations
generally, and the Andersonville prison. 1.-THE
witness explained at great length the An
dersonville prison, as shown by picture
OF the prison that he had mad by his
order, at the order Of the Government.
The region Of the prison is well wooded with
large pine trees, we'll adapted to furnish shelter.
One hundred men the witness said could enlarge
the sire Of the stockade one third in thirty days
and that there was plenty OF labor aud timber at
hand for that purpose. The circumstances Of his
arrest they witnessed He ordered Capt. Noyes
to make the arrest at Andersonville. No protec-
ton was ever extended to him by the witness.
buried in the ground The ground was literally
cut up with these holes; each one as they were
packed would hold four men each. Saw several
holes that looked like wells, but the witness was
never able to ascertain what they were for.
Cross examined by Mr.. Baker: The witness
was acting under orders from the War Depart
ment; Gen. Sherman and Gen. Thomas. Captain
Noyes reported to witness that the prisoner was
wrecks OF humanity, swore to the officers that
Wirz was the keeper Of the prison and the author
OF their degradation. The officer was instructed
by witness " to have the miscreant arrested. -
The sheds In the stockade were In an unfinished
| state, affording no shelter to the prisoners.
The only protection that was offered to the
prisoner was that he should not be hurt on the
spot and that was given to him to quiet the fears
OF his wife and children. He was told that he
would be dealt with as the Secretary Of War
wonld order. The witness said the lack OF wood,
water, aud shelter was self-apparent, and no hu-
name man could help but see the entire lack Of
comfort. The witness said that he should think
the prison was constructed SO as to accommodate
not more than 5000 prisoners, and was told that
80, 900 were packed iuto 1t at one time. The
ground was OF the marshy order aud had a ten
dency to breed miasma.
wILLET VAN buren,
Cross examined by Mr.. Baker: He came away
from the prison In March. Had seen Confederate
soldiers often with pants and blankets that had
the mark Of the United States Sanitary Commits
sion. Never heard Of our soldiers trading goods
with the rebels. He was going down the hill
when he heard the report OF gun, aud he after
wards ascertained that three men had been shot.
They were shot between the dead line and the
north gate. 1t was In August Of last year.
GEORGE WILLING,
called and sworn. Was Leutenal Colonel In the
4th Kentucky cavalry; was with Gen. Wilson
Thirty -one thousand pounds were turned over {;
also, 700 bags Of salt. There were large quanti-
ties Of corn and bacon. There was mill at
Albany, built by the rebel government, and had
two run Of stone. This mill was capable OF grind
ing 900 bushels in twenty -four hours. The COM
missary turned over to our troops twenty -four
wagons, and In the corral there were about
thirty mules. Saw In the hands OF farmers
OK teams that they made them transport with.
Albany is 25 miles from Andersonyille. He
knew that the mill would grind 900 bushels Of
grain from the quartermaster OF his regiment
after our forces had taken possession OF the mill.
The witness believes that the capacity Of the
mill to be fully 800 bushels every "a hours.
The witness was being oss-examined by Mr..
Baker when our report closed.