The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-09-25
testimony Of ambrose spencer at the

Testimony OF Ambrose Spencer at the
Wfrz TriaI
Many of our old residents will remem-
Der q young lawyer who resided in this
city twenty five years ago, by the name of |
Ambrose Spencer, a son of the late John
G Spencer who was formerly Secretary OF |
War under John Tyler. Ambrose was
also brother of Midshipman Philip Spen-
Ger who was executed on board the U. s.
Brig Somers, in ls4s, off the Island of
St. Thomas, for forming a conspiracy
among the crew 70 seize the vessel, MUIR
der its officers, and turn it into pirate.
The commander of the vessel was Ospt.
Mackenzie, whose former name was Slidell,
brother or relative Of the rebel Slidell, of
Trent notoriety. The execution OF young
Philip Spencer created intense excitement
at the time, and public opinion was much
divided IS to the justifAbility OF the act.
It was contended by the friends of Spencer
that he should have been brought to the
nearest port, and tried before 8 regular
court martial. The Captain defended the
act on the ground that the ,nutiny was go
rife, that he was in imminent danger of
being overpowered, and that his only
course was to make a summary example
1t will be seen in looking at the report
| of the trial of Wirz, that Mr.. Ambrose
Spencer appeared as q witness against the
defendant and knowing his testimony
would interest his old acquaintance in this
city, we copy it in full:
Ambrose Spencer, residing nine miles
from. Andersonville testified that he visit
ed the prison every month, and had ample
opportunities of ascertsiniDg its condition,
which WIS as Wretched and degrading IS
ss the mind could well conceive; the odor
from the stocksde could be detected 8 dis
tance of two miles; the section of country
was we'll supplied with mills, both tor
grain and humber; it was probably the
most densely wooded of any in the United
States; as TO fertility he RelleEsd .SSep SSepRgtahP'
den spot of the Confederscy, from which
immense quantities were drawn for the
army; there was an uneommoDly large sup
ply of vegetables in the summer OF 1864
some of which were taken from Americas
to AndersonYille for the use of Confederate
officers; the witness had knowledge of th'
ladies in the neighborhood gathering fooC
and clothing for the prisoners. Genera
Winder, in the presence of himself, Wit
and several other ladies, said, with an oath
that he believed the whole country wa
becoming Yankee, and he would be damned
if he wouldn't put stop to it, if not on'
way he would another; the witness replieC
that the exhibition of humanity was no
evidence of the fact If that assertion
Winder said it was slur on the Confede
rate Government and q covert attack upoI
himself; the witness informed him tina
the supplies were forwarded at the reques
of Rev Mr.. Davies, when General Winde
replied, "Thst's q damned lie; ss for him
self he would as soon the damned Yankee
should die there as anywhere else; he be
lieved it would be better" Genera
Winder's language on that occasion wa
utterly unfit TO be repeated in the presenc
of ladies'; but the meaning wss that b
could very easily make loyal women o
them by putting them in certain cOndi
ton in 8 subsequent conversation with
B Winder, Lieutenant Reed and Captain
Wirz, Reed observed that if Genera
Winder had done as he wanted him to dc
he (Reed) would have made good "spec
out of the clothing and supplies; Captain
Wirz said if he had his wsy he would hav
, a house built for certain infamous purposes
in which he would place these benevolen
women; h. B. WindeF concurrei in th
, remark by laughing; at the laying out G
the prison w. S. Winder was there super
, intending; the witness asked him if b
, was not going to erect sheds and shelter
and why he was cutting down the trees, t
which he replied, " am going to build tn
, pen go IS to destroy more damned Yankee
than can be destroyed at the front;" Ger
]. Il. Winder always swore when the nam
, | of Andersonville was named; the witnes
described him as bereft of the feelings {
humanity, in fact, brutal man.