Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1865-08-29
Trial Of Henry Wirz.
Return Of the Prisoner's
< Counsel.
EIGHTH DAY.
UNITED STATES MILITARY COMMISSION
GES. LEW. WALLACE, President, r
Col n. ?. CaIrsAS, Judre Advocates.

and many were unable to gain admission, the
room being crowded few minutes after the
opening Of the Coutt. . ..U.' l.t
A number Of ladies were present and oecupied
the front seats reserved for them.
At twenty Ave minutes past 10 o'clock the
prisoner was brought in and shown to his usual
seat. .. To u.
Colonel Chapman said he had Communication
handed to him by the prisoner, which he read.
Il is as follows:
Old CAPITOL PRISON, I
wAsHISGroS CRY, D. c.. Aug. %, 1893.
Col. N. p. CHiPnAS, Judge Advocate Military
most respectful, ask the Commission, as
am here alone, 70 send for my counsel-Messrs.
schade and Baker, as I understand that on my
most feryent entreaties they have consented
| again 10 appear for me. They understand my
whole case, and know my witnesses aud papers.
Hoping that the Commission will grant my re-
quest, sign myself, most respectfully,
i'' Late csptafn, A. A. O. O. sA.
Gen. wallace said, II there was no objection
the gentlemen will be sent for.
No objection being made, an orderly was dis.
patched for Messrs. Baker and schade.
About half past ten, Mr.. schade entered the
court room few minutes afterwards Gen.
Wallace ordered that the courtroom be cleared.
At quarter past eleven the doors were re-
opened, aud the reading Of the testimony was
begun by Mr.. Hays, one Of the oticial reporters
The reading Of the testimony Of yesterday was
closed at quarter past twelve o'clock.
Gen. Wallace said this morning the Judge Ad-
vocate presented a communication from the pris-
oner, asking that Messrs Schade and Baker
be permitted to continue as his counsel. Desir-
Gus Of extending to the prisoner every means OF
dofence, we waive any personal objection to the
names Of the counsel, and allow the gentlemen
TO appear
Mr.. Baker asked the Judge Advocate to recall
Sergeant Boston Corbet. ...
Col. Chapman said he would send for him.
DR.. O. O. ROY
was called, and testified that he was on duty at
Andersonyille was ordered there by the medical
director Of the rebel army OF Tennesseei went
there on the lst Of September, 1894. Dr. Isaiah
H. white was In charge Of the hospital he acted
as post surgeon. Dr. Stevenson was ehiel surgeon
Of the stockade. The hospital was In very de-
plorable condition. Many Of the patients were
not furnished with hunks or bedding. Witness
son witness was in charge Of the fourth d.ys J
ion. Prior to going to Andersonville witness hed'
been on duty In Macon, Ga. DR. II. ii. Clayton
succeeded Dr. Stevenson.
After DR.. Clayton took charge the supply OF
medicine was suficieut. He had no better facili-
ties for obtaining medicine than his predecessor,
DR.. Stevenson. Witness found no dimcnlty In
getting medicines in other hospitals. Witness
was told there was thirty or thirty ave thousand
pri .oners in the stockade. Many Of the prison
ers had scuryy and other diseases. Their condi-
tion was almost indescribable. The long con
hnement and not having the nece,saries OF ne
shelter except such As was constructed By them
selves. II the space in the stoekade had been
filled with sheds 1t would almost have produced
a stagnAtion Of air. The stockade should nave
haa N. rgah nd fnFniRlfed.
The stream was allied with fallen trees and
brush, about which dirt accumulated, and the
place was horrible; maggots and ants, produced
BY decayed vegetable and animal matter The
quantity was very great. There were great
many mosquitoes about there. They were most
terrible Il was dangerous for man to open his
mouth after sundown. The ground wasdrained
some after DR.. Clayton took charge. The heas
about the prison were as bad the mosquitoes.
The marsh was near the hospital. The odor and
masma from the marsh came In the hospital.
Its effect upon the patients was deleterious. IL
was the duty Of witness to make requlsitions for
vegetables. Could not get them from DR.. Steven
son.
the hospital. One Of the patients OF witness was
shot about the hrst Of the year 1895. Witness did
not see him shot astonded him after he was
shot Capt. wirE had control Of the guards about
the hospital. The orders to the prisoner gave him
control over the surgeons. He did not exercise
control over the surgeons
Mr.. Baker objected to witness saying anything
contained In the orders OF Capt. WITT He said
the papers were In the hands Of the Government,
and the Judge Advocate could produce them.
The objection was sustained by the Court.
Witness resumed On one occasion q difficulty
occurred between Captain wirz and DR.. James an
Assistant Surgeon. communication was sent
to DR. James from me officer commanding the poet,
stating that Captain Wirz had control Of the whole
place, and the surgeons were under him. Wirz
got that authority from Brig. Gen John IL.
winder. On one occasion witness saw clerk to
DR.. James, 4 young man from an old Ohio regi
ment He was bucked. Witness was told 1t was
by order Of Captain wirI. There was hospital
the wants Of tie patients. When witness was
there the fund amounted to $50 900 or 800, 600
per month In Confederate money. II should have
been drawn from the comm lssary, Major Proctor
II was only three or four days before the aban-
donment Of the post that additional supplies were
given.
Gross examined: The hospital fund was crea-
ted by act Of rebel Congress before witness went
to Audersonyille. Witness found the hospital
fund was In existence when he got to Ander-
sonville Knew there was some money drawn
Witness knew because he got some delicacies
which were purchased out Of the hospital fund
Witness did not know the amount OF the hos
pital fund drawn. Witness knew OF 5000
drawn In Confederate money. Twenty dollars
In Confederate money was worth one dollar In
greenbaeks DR.. Clayton, the chief surgeon,
drew the money. Captain WirZ had nothing to
do with the hospital fund book. II Captain WirI
had been more severe, his orders would have
protected him.
Witness was there before Dr.. Clayton came.
After he came the condition Of the place vas
much better. The surgeon before DR.. Clayton
| could have had the Affairs Of the place managed
as well ~ DR.. Clayton had them. Capt. WirI
was there during the administration OF Dr. Clay
ton, and his predecessor, DR.. Stevenson.
At this time, ten minutes past one o'clock,)
the Court took recess until two o'clock.
At two o'clock the Court reassembled, when
DR.. VAN DERKIBF
was called. He testified that he was on duty In
| Baltimore, at the Medical Directors onice. Had
been surgeon in charge ut Annapolis for two
years. Had treated returned prisoners at An
| napols. Had treated some 1900 prisoners from
| AndersOnville. The men arrived In very des-
titute, some Of them In dying condition, suffer
| ing from chronic diarrhGS, scuryy, &c. many
Of ticn having to remain In the hospital for
| some lime
There were more deaths from chrouio diarrh@a
| than any other disease. Learned from the pris.
soners hat they were very much opposed, and
had no SHELTER Exposure to wet and cold would
insu dicient and many men died from starvation.
Witness was here shown a photograph OF re-
turned prisoner, aud said II was = correct pic
ture, Many Of the prisoners returning from
Andersonyille were worse than the one shown by
the photograph.
| Cross examined Witness was brevet colonel
| and surgeon In the army. Was educated In HOl
land. Witness was once captured, but released
Immediately. Witness knew they came from
AndeTsonyille by Oficial report. Witness had
often heard the prisoners complaining Of the
Tailor at AndersOnVille.
| MARTIN T. HOGAN
m - Az.l l.. a IL