Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-09-26
Trial Of Wirz.

Trial Of Wirz.
Wirz has 80 iAr recovered from his late attack
OF illness that he is now able to be brought into
Court. and his trial is again progressing. The
evidence throughout the on tire trial has been 90
loathsome and Bickcning in its details that we
have had no heart to spread it out before the
readers Of the FREEMAN. We this week, how
ever, give brief synopsis Of part OF the tes
timony taken since Wrz recovered sufficiently
to allow the trial to 60 on. We are quite sure
our readers will tnink this little full enough to
condemn Wirz to .he gallows, and tho robeI gov
enmen. under the orders and with the full
knowledge Of which these hellsh atrocities were
perpetrated, to everlasting scorn and iniamy.
On Thursday D. i. Walker gave testimony
similar to previous accounts Of a dOstardly
speech made by Howell Cobb at Anders0nville
about hanging prisoners &c. Cobb also recon.
mended Wirz az meritorlous and effective
officer.
Ambrose Spencer residing nine miles from
AndersonVlle testified to the wretched condition
OF the prison. The odor from stooRade could
be detected two miles of. The country was
fertile and densely wooded The crops IN 1864
including vegetables, were very large. The
witness knew oil ladies in the neighborhood
gathering clothing and food for the relief of the
prisoners, about which Gen. Winder said with
an OATH he believed that the whole country
were becoming Yankees, and that DO would be
CANNED II be wouldn'G put stop to IT, He
used other language, the meaning OF which was
that be could very easily make loyal women Of
them in certain condition. WIZ subsequently
SAID that II he had his own way no would have
house built ior certain infamous purposes, in
which he would place these insolent women.
DR.. b. j. Head, who was on duty as Surgeon
at Andersonvilie IN July and August, of '64,
testified to the su1erings OF the prisoners, from
disease and want Of proper diet, entsupplles IN g,
aud lac IN eonse quence Was the reciplen. OF out
rageous language from Win der and others
Chas Ii. Russell recalled and related two in
stances Of cruelty by James Duncan rebel
who was in charge Of tho distribution Of the
bread, in kicking man who asked Tor crust
Of bread, and he died several days thereafter,
and BIO treated another similarly Tor the same
request. The witness was asked il Duncan
was in the Court. The respondent said yes,
aud pointed him out. Duncan, after standing
up and showing himself was informed by the
Court that be must remain here. Ii seems he
is a witness for the defense.
w. w. Crandall recalled and testified to Dun
can 3 taking picture from a mao in the stocks,
and helping himself to The prisoners money.
samuel NJ. Riker testified that the prisoners
were robbed both 1t Richmond and Anderson
Vile.
H. O. Smith testified to the killing OF pTis
ouer by sentinel by order Of Wlrz tor reach
ing beyond the dead line
T. j. Dyke, rebel railroad agent at Ander
sJnvilIe, testified that there was good deal Of
provisions, Including vegetables there at al
times
Ambrose Hensbsw testified to seeing man
fHot Tor reaching over the dead line fora crumb
Of bread
On Friday, Dr., Hopkins, who was appointed
IN July, 1864, with Surgeon White, to examine
the Andersonyile prison, produced letter TO
Gen. Winder. IN which lie reported that the
causes Of disease and mortality was very large
among the prisoners. There was an entire abb
sence Of vegetables, want Of barracks, made
qua.e supply Of food and water, badly cooked
food, filthy condition Of the prisoners, morbid
emanations from the rayines, and that he recon-
mended the immediate removal Of fifteen thous-
and prisoners, as a detail 10 cultivate yegeta bIes
the immediate erection Of barracks, and furnish
necessary wood and have wells dug, to divide
the prisoners into squads, under sergeant, to
be furnished with soap, furnish the prisoners
with clothing, and il unable to 90 this, to no.
THY the Federal Government, the daily inspec-
ton Of bake-houses and the cooking, 10 cover
with sand the morasses, and adopt oher santa
~ measures. lie also made sundry IecommeD-
dations to improve the hospital arrangements,
which was greatly inadequate
DIR. Hopkins testified that he submitted his
report to surgeon White, who said 1t was truth
ful, and he would sign 1t and transmit IT to Gen.
Ninder, but he did not sign it, The witness
did not know whether anything had been done
to carry out the suggestions
Judge Advocate Chapman thea submitted the
General Order OF Gen. W lnder to DR.. Hopkins,
to show to the Richmond authorities, who knew
the condition Of the Andersonyille prison, and
that Winder had authority 10 apply for remedy.
On DE-. Hopkins cross examination he said II
was Winder's implicit confidence in WiTz that
caused this STATE OF things to exist.
DIR. Rice was on duty ut Andersonville. lie
also testified to the terrible condition OF the
pusoners, corfoborauug previous testimony
Two more soldiers, who had bsen prisoners
there, repeated the horrors Of the pan, whel the
commission adjourned.