Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1865-09-13
THE TRIAL OF WIRZ.
The Evidence Horrible Treatment Of the
Union Prisoners while at Andersonville,
by Wirz, Clearly Proven.

From the evidence taken before the Com
mission trying Capt. Wirz, the keeper of
the Andersonville prison, we extract the
following
Among the witnesses examined was Col
onel GIBBS, who commanded the post at
Andersonville. lie said that Wirz had ex-
elusive control of the prison. The prison
ers were crowded so close as to remind him
of an ant-hll. He gave a circumstantial
account of the dicipline and disgusting con-
dition of the prison, and remarked that one
of the rules was that whoever crossed the
dead line should be shot.
DIR. JOHN @. BATES, an eX-rebel, who
was physician at the prison, another wit
ness, gave a long and interesting account of
that place and the shameful treatment to
which the prisoners were subjected, stating
as to his opinion that with proper care the
lives of seventy-five per cent. of those who
died might have been saved.
THOMAS G. ALCoCK was sworn, and tes-
titled tina. he was captured and sent to An
dersonvile prison in some part of December,
1864; on arriving there he was searched by
Capt. Wirz, the prisoner whom he now re-
cognizcd at the bar, who took from him his
belt, containing $3.50 in gold, $3.50 in green
backs, a jack-knife, breastpin and gold
ring, and his pocket book these were never
returned to him on one occasion a weak
man asked Capt Wirz to let him go out for
some fresh air; Wirtz asked what he meant,
and turned round, pulled revolver out Of
his pocket, and shot him down; the man
died two or three hours afterwards the wit
ness spoke In condemnation of this act of
Wirz, who said he would put him in the
same place. the witness replied he was not
afraid of it; Wirz then called Corporal
L IL
and chain; he gradually, by working at the
and then made his escape; the man that
was shot was named Wright, and belonged
to the 8th Missouri the prisoners would
sometimes get water from the stream or
brook, by attaching their vessels to the end
of poles; while doing so they were often fired
at with shells.
SERGEANT Boston CoRBETT testified that
he was in the United States service; was
captured at Centreville, Va, and conveyed
to Andersonville, where he arrived in July
before he and his companions entered the
stockade, having remained some time, they
We're divided into detachments he was ex-
eeedlngly thirsty and asked man near Capt
Wlrz Tor drink of water the man waS one
OF our own prisoners on his parole Of honor
for different occupation, but could not give
me the water; another man was Sick in the
stoekade, and asked the Lieutenant of the
squad whether he could not be sent to the
Hospital the officer informed him that
nothing could be done till tomorrow. and
that he must go into the stockade with the
others after he entered the stockade he
found nine men of his Company who had
been brought there three months previous
within two months six of these men died
of IA men who were taken to Andersonville
when he was, only two returned alive; he
was one of them when he reached there he
saw forts and guns he noticed several men
near the headquarters in chains, with balls,
exposed to the heat OF the sun he still bore
the marks of the sun by exposure on his
shoulders he had seen the stocks, but did
not remember seeing any persons IN them;
the dead line was a slight wooden structure
three or four feet high, running twelve or
fifteen feet from the stockade; the place
where the stream entered the stockade was
broken down he had seen men shot and
killed there the prison was in horrible
condition Of filth the swamp on each side
of the stream was SO offensive and the stencil
so great that he wondered every man there
did not die he believed it was the cause of
the death of many of our men ; the maggots
were foot deep, the soldiers dug up roots;
they were dried In the sun and used for fuel;
the sick fingered around the swamps as sol
diers lie down to rest after march, going
to that locality he would find dead men; the
feet of others were swollen; gangrenous
sores were without bandages the sores were
filed with maggots and flies; the men were
unable to move, lying in their filth they
generally chose that position and would pre-
fer being near the sink; in one case man,
he was certain, died from lice, which were
as thick as the mans garments; the food
was insufficient even when double rations
were served for calling the roll or attending
the sick when the witness was sick within
the stockade no medicine was given TO him
they however gave him sour meat and water,
and called il VINEGAR: our own men made