The Union flag. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1865-187?, 1865-11-17
EXECUTION OF WIRz.
On the Scaffold--He declares his
Innocence-The Order for his Elk
ecution--The closing scenes.

ecution--The closing scenes.
WASHINGTON, Nov lO.-Captain Wrz was
hung between 10 and II this morning On
| the gGllows he declared his innocence lie
| died without exhibiting any symptoms Of
fear. This morning Father Boyle admins
tered the sacrament to Capt. Wirz. Father
Wiggctt, also Of the Roman Catholic Church,
then placed upon the prisoner black cam
| brio, rcmarking Ns he did so, ~ hope this
will be turned into white in another world"
| At twenty minutes past 10 he left the Capitol
Prison, accompanied by Provost Marshal
Russell and other officers, and by Father
Boyle and Wiggett. Passing between guards,
they assembled the Scahod, The prisoner was
then seated The scaffold was twelve feet
square and twenty-five feet to top beam, with
trap twelve feet from the ground. The
guard consisted Of the 9th Pennsylvania Vol
| unteers and small detachment of the Vet
tran Reserve Corps, under command of Cap
tain Walbridge, Military Superintendent Of
the Old Capitol Prison There were several
hundred spectators present, besides the MILL
tary. The civilians had been admitted on
| special passes. Amid profound silence, Pro-
voSt Marshall Russell proceeded to read the
order of the War Department, founded on the
verdict of tue Court Martial which tried the
prisoner. He was charged and convicted of
combining, confederating and conspirating
with JEFF. Davis, J. A. Sedden, Howell Cobb,
John Ii. Windcr, Isaac White, w. S, Wader,
1t. Shelby Reed, r. r. Stevenson, S. S. Moore,
Kerr, late hospital stewart at Andersonville,
Joseph Duncan, W. Turner, Benjamin Harris,
and others whose names are unknown, and
who were then engaged in armed rebellion
oppiu st tbn InitN1 Stn.cc ,,,nlinipns1,. troi
torously, md in violation Of the laws of war,
to impair md injurc the health and destroy
the lives, by subjecting to tortures and great
suffering, by combining in unhtGltGy and un-
wholesome quarters, by exposing 10 the in
element winter and to the dews and burning
sun of summer, by furnishing insufficient and
unwholesome food to large number Of Fed
eral prisoners Of war-to-wit: about forty
five thousand, held as prisoners Of war at
Andersonyillc, within the limits of the So
called Confederate States, on or before the
9th day Of March, 1894, and NJ divers times
between that dny and the 10th Of April, 1865
to the end that the armies Of the United States
might be weakened and impaired, and that
the insurgents engaged in armed rebellion
against the United States might be nidcd and
comtorted etc., etc. The order also stated
that the prisoner was found guilty of the
second charge, viz murder in violation Of
war, and against the laws and customs Of
war, and guilty Of excepting the fourth, tenth
and thirteenth, which three set forth that he
killed q prisoner by shooting him with re-
yolver, and that he ordered sentinel to fire
on him with revolver, and that he shot an
other with revolver 80 that he died.
The order concludes as follows "Sentence
Court do therefore sentence him, Henry
Wir2, to be hanged by the neck until he be
dead at such time and place MS the President
Of the United States nny direct two thirds
of the members Of the court concurring here
in, aud the Court also find the prisoner, Hen
ry Wirz, guilty of having caused the death,
in the manncrNs alleged in specification 18th,
charge two, by means Of dogs, Of three pris-
oners of war in his custody, and soldiers Of
the United States, occurring on or about the
10th Of Mny, 1864, another on or about the
18th day Of July 1864 and another on or
about the lst day Of September, 1864, but
which finding, as expressed, has not been en-
tered In the sentence of the Court rs above
stated.
I'd. The proceedings, findings and sem
tcnCc In the foregoing case having been SUBJ
mittcd to the President, the following are his
orders:
EXECUTIVE MANSION, Nov, 3, 1865.
Tho proceedings, findings and sentence Of
the Court Fin the within case are approved, |
and IL 10 ordered that tho sentence be carried
into execution 10y the officer commanding the |
Department Of Washington, on Friday, the
10th day Of November, 1865, between the |
hours Of G in the morning and u o'clock |
noon.
(Signcd) ANDREW JOHNSON,
President Of the United States.
3. Major General G. G. Anger, command. |
Ing the Department Of Washington, IL com.
mandcd to cause the foregoing sentence, In
the case Of Henry Wirz to be duly executed,
In accordance with the Presidents order.
4. The Military Commission Of which Ma.
or General Wallace, United States Volun-
tecrs Ia President Is hereby dissolved.
BY command Of tho President Of tho Uni
ted states, y. D. TOWNSEND, A. q.
When tho reading Of the order wns com.
plctcd Wirz conycrsed with those on the
platform with seeming confidence aud self
and II was remarked he had
smiling countcnancc TO his spiritual ndyi-
scrs he said, 81 nm innocent. have TO die,
! have hope In tho future. have nothing
more 10 say
Ills legs and hands were tied the moose
wns plnced around his neck md tho blnck
CAP passed over bis face. lie stood Greet,
without flterinR, evidently having nerycd
himself 10 the solemn event, Those on the
platform retired TO tho railing, leaving the
doomed man In the ccntrc Of tho structure,
,ncrln fow mumonts, the drop, at pfecon.
serted signnl, fell TO the grouad.
The news having reachcd The ears ofN pro.
risru9W crowd inside The Capitol ground '