New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-08-22
cusReEs AID SPECIFICATIONS
s-ARvArloN AND MURDER
RK II Il G o r. ID
,,nsr DAYS PROCEEDINGS.
WASHINGTON, Monday, Aug. 81, 1865.

The special Military commission conNen .eo
,s afternoon in the Court oil Ss Room ma a. co o
csn,ol, MajOf-Gen. Wallace iIesiuen'' anu |o]
SSiomsn judged dyoeate. -, - - .u;os
II o'clock Capt Wirz the prisoner TO be tired,
as brought into the room, guarded on eaeh sue oy
e,Sier The prisoner was requested 10 rise, When
COL WIZ, You are to be tried by this Military
Commission Have you any personal objection TO any
=" Iaare Hughes OF the counsel said he proposed
.amaRe no affection Of personal character. IDey
rond however at a subsequent stage ilbe proceeu'
nes ask 10 be heard on the plea OF general rsdclon
oc;SIv ohiectng 10 the mode of constituting the
cdnrt But II the prisoner was 10 be tried by Mill
.ry Commission he would soon be tried by this one
n any other. - -
Tho ,Iudge. Advocate Informed the prisoner that he
.ss erragned for trial under the name Of Henry WIZ
WAS that the manner
T'l,, prisoner replied that II was.
Jp1ee Hughes desired TO say that the charges and
necGeatons were not delivered to the prisoner until
yesterday afternoon and were not seen by his counsel
In this morning. therefore they had not suihcient time
coI chipman said the counsel could ask for delay
,er The aIragnment and then proceeded to read the
charges and Specifications preferred sgalnst Henry
Wiz as fDllowG
CHARGE FRsf-M alicously, willfuly and traitorous-
I, and in aid of the then-existing armed rebellion
srsus. the United States OF America on OF before Inc
Isl day Of March A. d. 1854. and on divers other days
between that day and the 10th day Of April ls65 com.
inning cOnederating and c0nspirng together with
Robert f. Lee James A. Seldom, John H. Winder.
Iucius d. Northrop, Richard B. Winder, Joseph White
W : Wlnier IL. IL. Stevenson, Moore. ana others
unknown TO i.ure the health and destroy the lives OF
soldiers the military service of the United states
lhen held and being prisoners OF war within the heA
Of the so-caed Confederate States and IN the militia
prisons thereof TO the end that the armies of the United
States nigh, be weakened and impaired, in violation OF
The laws and customs OF war.
speefcotion-In this: that he, the said Henry Wirz,
did combine confederate and c0nspire with them the
said Robert r. Lee, james a. Seldom. John II. Wind
e. Lucus Fl. NortnrOp Richard j. Winder, Joseph
white ". ;. Winder, r. Il. Stevenson, - Moore,
and others whose IRE unknown citizens OF the
United States aforesaid and who were then engaged in
armed rebellion against the United States nalciOusly,
rssor usy and in violation of the laws of war to i'm
par and nure the health and 10 destroy the lives by
subecng 10 torture and great suffering. by combining
In unhealthy and unwhoesome quarters, by exposing 10
The ncemeDcy of Winter and to the dews and burning
sun Of Summer by compelling the use of impure water
n.A BIZ furnishing insufficient and uuwhDlesOme food Of
large numbers of Federal prisoners soldiers IN the Mill
tGy service OF the United States Of America, held as
rrisoners Of war az Andersonville. IN the State
oGeOrgia within the lines of the sOcalled Confederate
States on or before the lst day of March, d. lsbl'
and a. divers times between that day and the l0th day
Of April A. H. 1865 IN the end that the armies Of The
United States might be weakened and imraired and
he insurgents engaged in armed rebellion against the
United States might be aided and comfOried; and he,
.he said Henry Wirz an officer in the military service
dthe so csled Confederate States, being then and
there comm ndant OF military prison at n ierson
vile In the State of Georgia, located by authority OF
the ocaei Confederate STATES Tor thc CONFINEMENT OF
prisoners war aud such commaDdani fully clothed
with authority and in duty bound 20 treat care and pro-
vide for such prisoners held as aforesaid, as were or
might be placed in his castody according TO the law Of
did in urtherance OF such combination, coniedcra
zion ard conspiracy, and melted therennto bythcm,
the said Robert +. Lee, james Il. Seldom,
John II. Wilder, Iueius ii. NorthrOp, Richard
B Winder. Joseph White W., s. Winder r.
l. Stevenson Moore and others whose
names unknown, maliciousy. vcEedly and traitor
ossly confue large number Of such prisoners OF war;
seers in the military service Of the United States to
Ioe humber OF 10000 men, N unhealthy and unwbole'
some quarters, IN a close and small of ground.
wholly inadequate 10 their wants and destructive 10
their health. which he well knew and intended, and
While there confined during the time aforesaid, did
IN therance of his evil design and in aid Of the said
conspiracy wiifaly and maciousy neglect to furnish
tents barracks other shelter sufficient for their pro-
lection from the inclemency Of Winter and the dews
and Burning Of Summer and with such evil intent
did take and cause to be taken from them their
eDtobg blankets camp equiplgc and other
properly 81 which they were possessed at the time Of
beng placed in his custody and with ike malice and
evil Intent, did refuse TO furnish TO be fur.
nished food. either of quality quantity sufficient
pseserye health and sustain life, and did refuse and
tegct 20 furnish wood sufficient for cooking In SUM-
asr and 10 keep the said prisoners warm in Winter
an Gid compel The said prisoners to subsist upon IN
nrbage OF tie prison and prisonyard. ana
he ofal and drainage Of the cook house
Il said prison, whereby the prisoners became
eaily reduced in their bodily strength ond emaciafed
Rred and their iutellecs broken, and many Of them.
bwit: 10 coo, whose names arc unknown, sckened
md died by reason thereof which be, the said
Henry Wrz then and there well knew and intended
and 10 knowing and eyilly intending, did refuse and
rgeet TO provide proper lodgings food or nourisment
LOT the sick, and necessary medicine and medica
attendance for the restoration of their health and did
knowingly. nalciousy and wfIlly in furtheTGnce Of his
rl designs permit tBom 10 ian rsh and die from want
ueaie and proper treatment And the said Henry WiIz
Mn pursuing bis evil purposes, did permit 10 remain IN
Oh ais lar
ug hyng, the bodies of the dead until they became
@rupt and oathsome. and filled the air with etid and
sa0Os Civilizations. and thereby greatly increased the
ush0esomeness Of the prison, insomueh that great
eaDes Of said prisoners, 10 wit: the number Of one
.'usand whose names are unknown sickeIcd and died
y reason thereof And tie said Henry Wirz. still pnr.
Sng MS wicked and cruel purpose, wholly disregard
y me usages Of civilized warfare did at the time and
r4Se aforesaid malicious and wl.l.ully subject the
onefs Aforesaid 20 cruel unusual aud infamous pun
Naent upon sigbt, trivial and fictitious preienccs.
fastening large balls Of iron 20 their feet, and bind.
Mee numbers Of the ,IisOners aforesaid closely TO.
sl Win large chains around their Decks aud feet.
\ uA laey walked with the greatest difficulty, and
sns 70 confined, were subjected to the burning rays
80 se san. often without food drink fCr bOurs. and
~, uat; nom which said cruel treatment large
-, 10 VII; the number Of one hundred.
s5 names are unknown, sickened, tainted
S-., ued. Aud he the said Wiz, did
60, ruey treat end nlure said prisoners by mali.
eonlaing them within instrument Of torture
rsi 'ae stocks. thus depriVing them Of the use Of
nan, ~ anu forcing them to he SIT and stand iOi
"a aours without the power of changing position.
Mr. without food or drink. in consequence Of
a. tnany, to Wit: the number Of 80 whose names
NJ. .nnVWn- sickened and died. And BY the said
aN,h n "leKediy pursuing his evil Purposes did
hesanu cause to be designated within the prison
s6rsse containing said prisoners. dead.ne being
s, % the inner face Of the stockadc or wall iu-
v,s;5 sa9 prison. about 20 feet distant from and
sad stockade. and having so established said
nd wlieh was in many places an aginsry line,
Gihir. many other pisces marked by insecure and
sd s.ilps OF boards nailed upon the tops of small
ins,rr~,S .e stakes or posts he, the said Wiz
usESeu tns prison guards stationed around the said
nfe.siS 70 me upon ana kill any Of the prisoners
Der o. ac VINO might touch fan upon pass
dla In. 4