The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-09-29
The WIRZ TRIAL.
Report OF Rebel Surgeons on the Con.
aisiOn Of Anders0nville.


to-day, DR.. Hopkins testified that on the 22d
Of July, 1854, he was assigned to duty in the
hospital at Andersonville. He, together with
Surgeon White, were ordered to make thor.
0ugh inspection of the prison and hospital
The witness here read the following letter, q
the report be had made:
ANDERsoNvILLE, Ga, Aug. II, 1864.
rs Brig. Gen. Jno. A. Wsxder:
GENERAL-1n obedience to your order of the
18th Of July, requesting US to make an exam
ination Of the federal prison and hospital at this
place, and to ascertain and report to you the
cause OF disease and mortality among the pris-
oners, and the measures necessary to prevent
the same, has been compiled with, and we
respectfully submit the following causes ofdis
ease and mortality:
LIST: The large number of prisoners crowded
together. pa n5ssf --s
diet necessary as preventative to scurvy.
Sd. The want Of barracks to shelter the pris.
oners from sun and rain.
4th. The inadequate supply of wood and
water. . s
9TH. Badly cooked food.
9Th. The filthy condition of the prisoners.
7th. The morbid emanations from the branch
and ravine passing through the prison; the
condition of which cannot be better explained
than by naming it . morass of human excre-
ment and mud. 4.a
PREVENTATIVE MEASURES.
LIST. The removal Immediately from the pris-
on of not less than IL, 600 prisoners.
Cd Detail On parole of sufficient number of
prisoners to cultivate the necessary supply of
vegetables until this can be carried into prac-
teal operation. The appointment of agents
along the different lines of railroad to pur-
chase and forward supplies.
Sd. The immediate erection of barracks to
eholfpr this, rrisOnprS .f
4th. To furnish the necessary quantity of
wood and have wells dug to supply the def
cheney of water.
9TH. Divide the prisoners into squads and
place each squad under asergeant, furnish the
necessary quantity of soap, and hold the ser.
of his squad. Furnish the prisoners clothing
at the expense of the Confederate Government
and if that government be unable to do so,
candidly admit our inability and call upon the
Federal government to furnish them.
9Th. By daily inspection of bake house and
cookery.
9TH. Cover with sand entire morass not less
ter course, and conine the men to the use of
the sink, and make the penalty for the disobe-
dience of such orders severe. ..
At the close Of the proceedings of the
Wirz trial to-day remarkable scene took
place. The witness on the stand, an Indiana
cavalryman, Geo. w. Gray, had been testify.
ing to some outrages on the part of Wirz
that had not been put in evidence before.
He stated that the party of prisoners in whose
company he arrived at ,Andersonville were
ordered to place their blankets, haversacks,
&C., in one place, when an officer mounted on
gray horse rode up and told the Confed.
crate soldiers to help themselves and let the
prisoners have the remainder The Confed.
crates helped themselves, and there was moth
inrv loft He mot Certain whether the
mounted officer was Capt. Wirz or not.
In June or July, 1864, the witness and
Young fellow named Underwood, of the 18th
Indiana cavalry, CHS own regiment) went to
the suffers tent. Wirz was there. Under.
wood asked for something to rub his wound
with. The sutler said he would give it, when
Wirz said "No, he cannot have it unless he
paws me dollar" Underwood gave Wirz his
only money, which was $40 bill. and when
he asked for the change Wirz kicked him out
of theSdoor. Witness was put in stocks four
days for attempting to escape. He knew q
man to die in stocks in August or September,
1864. Negroes took him out of the stocks after
and hauled it of.
He knew Wirz to shoot o young fellow
named VIM. Stewart, belonging to the 9th
Minnesota infantry. He and wftness bad gone
outs0de of the stocl1de with dead body when
they met Capt. Wiz. He asked where they
LAO DeeUs dUQ SlcWtTt WIZ e2Nl
no more and drew his revolver aud shot him
Witness had seen prisoners crawling on
their hands and knees to the cars bayoneted by
the guards, when on their way to exchange.
Witness had seen q man who had been
caught by the dogs and had part OF his cheek
torn of, and his arm and hands and legs gnaw-
ed up so that he only lived "a hours. The
when Lieut.. Davis called him by name.
Judge Advocate Chipman-Capt. Wirz will
Won be good enough to stand up. The prison.
er, who had been lying all day upon the lounge
squirmed round, partly raising himself till his
eyes lit up with wild haggard expression and
yet glaring defiantly like those of a wild ami
NAL brought to bay, met the eye of the witness.
Col Chapman to the witness-Do you recog.
nize tn at man as the man who shot your COM
rade.
Witness-Slowly and emphatically, " That
is the man." The prisoner here made an effort
to contradict the witness Mathews, with some
| incoherent expression about not having been
seen by witness with Davis. He was with
difficulty restrained by the officer in charge
The Judge Advocate apparently not satisfied
with the opportunity which the witness had
| for Identification, asked the prisoner to rise
| gathering up a second time his lose jolnted
| frame, he was supported in that attitude by an
| officer OF the guard. His eyes had wild ex-
preston, and it was hard TO repress sympathy
uulOI IuuatC luau.
Again the Judge Advocate repeated his
| question to the witness. The witnesses re-
| ply this time was more esitating, and was,
q / think that is the man."
Another wild and fruitless attempt at con-
| tradiction was made by Wirz, when he was
partly drawn and partly sank on the lounge,
| where, by order OF Gen. Wallace, ne was fur'
nished with cold water and famed by an OIL
Ger. The Court thereupon adjourned, Gen.
| Wallace ordering the room to be cleared IN
stantly, 30 that the fainting and apparently dy-
ing man might have air. The hal! and loboies
were lined with persons VINO wished 70 see
him as he might be carried past:
| The prosecution will probably close TO,
| morrow, but it is doubtful whether Wirz viii
| live to see the case closed.
| NEW YORK FIRE.
New York. Sept. 20.-Insurance on property
/ DESTROYED h1 the great South street fire, eX.