The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-09-11
Trial of Captain WiFz.
WASHINGTON, Sent. g.

Lieut.. Col Chandler, formerly IN the rebel
service, who made an inspection of Ander-
sonville prison, testified as 70 the Indifference
of Gen. Winder, as to the comfort and health
of the prisoners. Winder said to him it
would be better to let one-half of the prison
ers die so that they could take care of the
remainder. Winder was afterwards promoted.
| Additional documentary evidence was SUBJ
mitted to-day. ~
A letter from acting adjutant and inspector
general, Lieut.. Col. Chandler, and assistant
adjutant and inspectorgeneral Col. II. c.
Chiffon, was the first. In it he lauds the ad-
ministration of Capt Wirz for his untiring
energy and general competency, and suggest
ing the removal of Gen. Winder and the sub
stitution of o man of good judgment and
humanity.
| Col. Chandler was then sworn. He had
no retraction to make of anything in his re-
port. He had conversation with Winder
about the bad condition Of the prison. Win
der said it would be better to let one hal of
| the prisoners die, so that they could atteno to
the remainder Winder had told other peo-
| pie SO.
| AT the afternoon session, John Pasque, of
| the marine service, testified to a man dying
in the chain gang: that he was told by . rebel
| sentinel for every Yankee he shot he received
30 days furlough, and three months extra
| wages.
J. A. Marshall 42d N. Y, testified he
knew of man who had died from the effects
of dog bites
VIM. NJ Fable, Of southwestern Georgia.
who was detailed as clerk to Col. Faro and
| rebel officers in command, testified that,
while riding out, he saw a man in the stocks
whom he thought would drown as a heavy
rain was falling upon his face. The witness
1eIl e.
then went to Capt. Mirz to express his ap-
prehennon. Wirz said, "let the damned
Yankee drown" In a few minutes there
after, however, an officer was sent from Capt.
Wirz headquarters, who took the man out of
the stocks. The crops were not so good in
1864, as in the year before, but the farmers
had surplus.
W. w. Crandall, of the 4th Iowa, testified
to mans being badly mangled in the legs
by dogs. and soon thereafter fastened at each
ancle With chain and ball. The man having
been kept in this condition several weeks,
witness went to Capt. Wirz and pleaded for
his release, but Capt. Whz said he could not
| be let loose.
The legs were badly swollen, and had pu-
trid look. A rebel surgeon, being appealed
to, said he could not consistently take ofi
more than one chain, which he did The man
finally died. Witness, as one of the detailed
sections, helped to bury 3oor 40 Of the men
who had been shot. Duria d the time when
General Sherman marched from Atlanta to
Savannah, a report came that Sherman and
his staff and IL, 600 men had been taken pris-
oners. Wirz said he hoped it was true. and
if the prisoners were sent there he could take
care of more damned Yankees than four resi
ments.
On one occasion barrel of rotten pork
was sent to the commissaries Office TO be used
by the Yankees there. Witness was employed
in Office. The next day he received orders
to weigh out the same number Of pounds of
beef and turn it over to Captain Wirz, who
| wanted the best, saving il was for his own
eating. He knew the pork came from Capt
Wirz' headquarters Prisoners who had
money could procure food.
! Cross-examned by Mr.. Baker.-The dead
were buried by Union prisoners under the
superIntendence of rebel sergeant. The
bodies were not treated indecently. excepting
that they were carted like logs of wood in
order to get full load, as there was only one
wagon Officers and soldiers frequently came
to the grave yard and upbraided them for not
| burying the dead in better style. saying that
they ought to work night rs we'll rs day
There were not more than thirty men employ
ed in burying the dead, and in vain they had
enueaFored 10 procure medical help. Some
of the visiting rebels said the grave yards
would make good vineyards - the Yankee
bones affording good manure. Let us invite
their friends to come and eat the grapes He
himself was put in the stocks for attempting to
escape. He had proceeded 100 miles before
he was apprchended by scouts as rebel de-
serter. Fearing he would be hung for being
q rebel, he told them he was Yankee. This
I was in Sept, 1864.
! VIM. Van Buren, I'd N. Y. Cavalry, testi-
fed as to blankets and pants from the santa,
ry commission having been appropriated by
the rebels. Wirz said that he could take care
of more Cd id Yankees than Lee at the
! front. Wirz had threatened to shoot the wit
ness for some trivial complaint, ond ordered
the guard to FIRE upon man who had stepped
out to pick up piece Of wood. He returned
back to the ranks before the guard could
shoot.
The prisoner said among other things the
prisoners we're reduced to skeletons and would
pick i9digested articles Of food. He men.
toned several cases Of shoo.ingmen-at leas,
70 of them by Capt Wirz himself.
Adiourned