Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1865-09-15
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WTRZ' TRIAL.

New York. Sept. 9.-More documentary ev-
idence was submitted to-day. A letter from
Acting Adiutant General and Inspector Gener-
al d. Il. Chandler to Assistant Adjutant and In
Inspector General Colonel r. H. Clinton, was
first presented. In it he applauds the admins
traton of Captain Wirz for his untiring energy
and general competency, and suggests the re-
moval of Brigadier General Winder, and the sub
stitution of man of good Judgement and hu-
manity.
Colonel Chandler was then sworn. He had
no retraction to make of anything in his report.
He had conversations with Winder about the
bad condition of the prison. Winder said it
would be better to let half of the prisoners die
so they could take care of the remainder Win
der told other people so.
At the afternoon session, John Payne, of the
naval service, testified to man dying in the
chain gang. He was told by rebel officer that
for every Yankee he shot he received thirty
days furlough and three months extra wages
j. A Marshall of the 42d New York, testi-
fed that he knew of man who died from the
effects of dogs bites.
VIM. NJ. Fable, of South Western Georgia,
who was detailed as a clerk to Colonel FOrDo
a rebel officer in command, testified that while
riding out he saw a man in the stocks who he
thought would drown, as heavy rain was fall
ing on his face. Witness held his umbrella
over him for a while, and then went to Captain
Wirz to express his apprehension. Wirz said
"let the damned Yankee drown. In few min
utes thereafter, however, an officer was sent from
Captain Wirz's headquarters who took the man
out of the stocks. The crops were not as good
in 1864 as in the year before, but the farmers had
a surplus. --
WV. Crandell, of the 4th Iowa, testified to
a man being badly bitten in the calves of the
l. o, L., i
at each ankle with a chain and ball, the man
being kept in this condition for several weeks.
Witness went to Captain Wirz and pleaded for
the release of the prisoner but Wirz said he
could not do it; the legs were swollen and had
purified look. A rebel surgeon being appeal
ed to said he could not conscientiously take
off more than one chain, which he did. The
man finally died. Witness, as one of the de-
tailed sections, helped to bury thirty or forty Of
the men who had been shot. During the time
General Sherman who marched from Atlanta to
the coast the prisoners WERE of course, very anx-
ious to hear the news. A report came that
Sherman, his staff and fifteen thousand prisoners
had been captured. Capt. Wirz said he hoped
this news was true and that if the prisoners were
sent there he could take care of more
damned Yankees than any four regiments
| in the field. On one occasion a barrel OF
rotten pork was sent to the COmmissary office
| to be used by the Yankees. Witness was en-
ployed in the office. The next day he had or
| ders to weigh out the same number of pounds
of beef and turn it over to Capt. Wirz, who
wanted the best. 1t was for his own eating
He knew the pork came from Capt. Wirz's
headquarters. Prisoners who had money could
procure food.
Cross examined by Mr.. Barker.
VIM. Van Buren, of the I'd D. Y. cavalry
testified as to blankets received from the SAM
tary Commission, having been appropriated by
the rebels. Wirz said to him he could take
care of more Cd id Yankees than Lee al
the front. Wirz had threatened to shoot the
witness for some trivial complaint, and ordered
the guards to fire upon a man who had STEPPED
out to pick up piece of wood, he hastened
back to the ranks before the guard could shoot
Witness said, among other things that the
prisoners were reduced to mere skeletons, and
would go to the sinks to pick up undigested
portions of food. He mentioned several cases
of shooting men. All of these were said to have
been shot by Wirz himself. Adjourned