Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1865-08-25
Trial Of HsnryWifs.
The Horrors of the Ander-
sonville Prison.
THE RATIONs ISSUED TO THE PRISONERS
THEY BEG FOR BONES.

fNITID STATES MILITARY COMMISSION
GES. LEW. WALLACE, President,

usual, and was attIred in the same suit as worn
by him since the beginning Of the trial, which
consists Of dark brown pants, black coat and vest
and white shirt Tho doors OF the courtroom
were thrown open, and then grand rush was
mado by those crowding the hall. In very few
minutes every inch Of standing room was occu-
pied. A number Of ladies entered the court room,
and were shown to seats.
At twenty minutes before 10 clock the read
ing Of the proceedings Of yesterday was com.
menced by Mr.. HAYS.
At IL o'clock the reading OF the minutes was
concluded, and Mr.. Schade asked that the Judge
Advocate be instructed to furnish the counsel for
the accused q copy Of the proceedings every
morning, at the cost OF the Government, as the
prisoner was not able TO pay for copy. Il, a,
record was open for their use, and they could
have access to Il at all times.
Mr.. Baker asked the Court to direct some Of
their clerks to furnish to the counsel copy Of
Gen. Wallace said he would take the opinion
Of the Court.
The Commission decided to furnish a copy to
the counsel for defence every morning
Mr.. Baker asked that some few Of the Govern
ment witnesses be retained, as they might be
used for defence.
The President and the Judge Advocate informed
that. The witnesses would be retained II the
names were furnished by counsel.
DIR. J. c. BATES.
Recalled From the 22d OF September, 1855, to
the lst OF November, 1885, the deaths were much
smaller than they had been. Never saw much
interest manifested on the part Of DR.. Stevens to
relieve the prisoners. The rations were not more
than twenty ounces for twenty -four hours they
may have been much less than that; they Ger.
tainly were not more. Twenty ounces was not
enough for man TO subsist upon. The diet con-
sisted OF corn meal, peas Of not good quality,
sometimes tolerable good beef and tolerable good
pork.
1t was the opinion Of witness that men starved
to death In the prison. Sixteen ounces OF -four
would make twenty two ounces OF bread. Wit
ness always gave the prisoners the beneht OF the
Increase. The diet was mOnOtonous. The con-
dition Of the prisoners was better after DR.. Ste
vens was relieved by DR.. Clayton. In 1854 am-
putations from gangreno occurred frequently
The prisoners in the stockade were very poorly
protected from rain. Their only means Of shell
ter was their blankets. In the vicinity Of the
prison there was wood enough to supply every
demand. The prisoners could have been sup
piled with shelter there was no deficiency IN
up to the time he left, l2,sIS patients had diod,
besides those who died Of smallpox.
An alteration took place In the hospital be-
tween Dr. James and Capt. Wirz. Witness
heard that his chief clerk had been gagged be-
cause he failed to report man missing. DIR:
James wrote letter and spoke OF the tyranny OF
wrz This man whom he had punished was
good and faithful nurse. Dr. james felt outraged
at the cruelty Of wirz.
Mr.. Baker objected to the witness stating any
thing In the letter. Question waived.
Witness did not know to whom the letter was
sent the surgeons said that we had no right to
give dose Of medicine without permission from
Capt wirz; the surgeons acknowledged the right
Of Capt. WirE over the hospitals. witness was
here showna diagram Of the Andersonyiile prison
that 1t was correct, only where there was one
man on the paper there were forty In the prison,
and those men going on their hands and knees
..rtt l. a.. tlAtE ANth D fha
prerogative OF witness to supervise the cooking
when he was officer of the day; when he would
go mp to the cook house the prisoners would come
to him and implore him for bones; witness would
say to them, "Yes, bOys,' and would give them
all the bones no could find the prisoners said
they would suck them and make soup out Of them.
Witness was hero shown n morning report Of
the prison, and recognized the hand. writing Of
DR.. Pelot, the medical officer OF the day. The
report was here offered in evidence.
Mr. Baker objected.
Col. Chapman said he would recommend to the
gentleman a chapter in Russell on crimes, rela-
tive to conspiracy.
The Commission overruled the objection.
The report was here read. II is MS follows:
FIRST DIVISION c. s. NJ =. Hospital,
September o, 1854.
Sin As officer of the day for the past twenty
four hours, | have Inspected the hospital and
found It in as good condition as the nature OF the
circumstance will allow: A majority OF the
hunks are still unsupplied with bedding, while
In portion Of the di ision the tents are entirely
destitute either hunks, bedding or straw, the pa
tients being compelled to lie upon the bare ground
would earnestly call attention to the article OF
diet. The corn bread received from the bakery
being made up without sitting, is wholly UNIT
for the use Of the sick; and often, as In the last
twenty four hoursl upon examination, the inner
portion is found TO be perfectly raw. The meat
beef received by the patients does not amount
to over two ounces u day, and for the past three
or four days no -four has been issued. The
corn bread cannot be eaten by many, for to
do ka Ia Inc tha Of fha
bowels, from which large majority are
suffering, and It is therefore thown away
All their rations received by way Of sustenance
is two ounces Of boiled beef and half pint Of rice
soup per day. Under these circumstances, all the
skin that can be brought to bear upon their cases
by the medical officer will ayail nothing.
Another point to which | feel II my duty to
call your attention is the deficiency Of medicine
We have but little more than Indigenous barks
and roots with which to treat the numerous forms |
Of disease to Which our attention is daily called.
For the treatment Of wounds, ulcers, &c.,we have
literally nothing, except water.
Our wards-some OF them-were filled with |
ganRrene, and we are compelled to fold our arms |
and look quietly upon its ravages, not even hav- |
ing stimulants to support the system under Its
depressing influences, this article being so |
limited In supply that II can only be issued for |
cases under the knife. would respectfully call |
your earnest attention to the above facts, In the
hope that something may be done to alleviate the
am, sir, very respectfully, your servant,
j. CRRws PgLor,
Asst Surg. P. A. C. s., aud 0hieer Of the bay.
To Surgeon L. D" EnASp, In charge First Diyi- |
sion, c. 8. N. y. Hospital.
At this hour, ten minutes past one o'clock,) |
the Commission took recess until two O'clOck.
AT 2 o'clock the Commission reassembled,
when
DIR. BATES
was again called to the stand. He testified that
attendants, nurses, cooks, clerks, &c, were com
posed OF the prisoners. The man spoken OF as
being punished by Wrz was named w. W.
Cooper, u prisoner held by the rebels.
Gross examined: Witness resides now at 81
Pennsylvania avenue, in this city. HIS home
was In Georgia, Jefferson county. Has been
physician. Never held aay Office
under the State or National Government Was
keeping drug store when the war broke out.
Up to June, 1854, witness remained at his home
practising medicine. He was then forced to 80 |
In the confederate service. He said nothing to-
wards bringing on the war had always been a
Union man. He went into the service rs sur
geon to keep out Of the militia; took an oath
forced upon him at the point Of the bayOnet; II
was forced upon him. Witness was arrested aud
taken TO Augusta entered the service as u con-
tract surgeon. One day, while dressing con-
wound, was placed uuder arrest The
hext morning book was handed to him to take
the oath asked n conference with Major Row
land, the commander OF the post could not got n
conference with him was brought out OF prison
with guard, and took the oath under duress
did not consider the oath anything.
The first duties Of witness at AndersonVille
was to visit the wards. Was there from Sept. 1,
1864, to March 25, rs 0. The chief surgeon was
X. II. Stevenson at the time witness went there.
lie was the surgeon to whom all the others had
~ l..Vh