Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-09-09

| heeien ana HAMILTON DC permitted 10 vlst hlH
in their pastoral capacity. The prisoner not beins
in the care of the Court the letter viii be refer
red TO the War Department for its action. there
being no doubt the request will be granted.
Lieutenant Tracy testified to Wertz' cruelty
| and among the acts mentioned ua the shooting
and killing Of a man who bad slipped over the
dead line, while trying TO get some water.
| Col. Chapman said be would introduce docu
mentary evidence to show that the Depart
ment q: Richmond had knowledge Of the condi
ton of the prison at Andersonville in MAY
last
Capt. c. M.-Selph. of the rebel army. and for
four years in ths-Adjutant Generals Once a,
Richmond, Identified the handwriting OF Howell
Cobb, in letter dated May 5;h, 1864, to Adiu-
tant General Cooper.
Cobb says, che has examined the prison. BE
presumcs It's character is we'll understood at
Richmond. and therefore gives no description
The danger Of prisoners escaping wss not 50
great as be had supposed. With guard OF 200
men, four pieces Of artillery and a cavalry com
pany. all apprehension Of escape would be qui-
eted. He bad arranged TO send two regiments
of infantry. He recommended the erection of a
hospital building outside Of the prison. Such il
the opinion Of every sensible man who has exam
ined the prison. The prison lie already too much
crowded, and no additional prisoners should be
sen. there sniil il has been enlarged.
HE bad previously stated there were - 900
there. The effect OF the increasing OF the mum
Der within the present area. must be terrific in
crease Of sickness during the summer months. l
understand, hesays. mo order has been given for
enlargipg the prison. IL twas possible to make
another prison il would be much bstter, for
doubt very much whether the water will be suff
cient for the accommodation OF the increased
! number Of prisoners. The general manage
ment OF the prison under Col Persons is good
I - ..ss- -. - l. - a
by Col Wcrtz, whose place il would be difficult
to ell still think the officer Of the post should
be brigadier general in view Of the number OF
troops that will be under his command
Signed HOWELL CoBs"
Accompanying this is report from DR.. FL.
bridge. his chief Surgeon, which saws the prs.
oaers are too much crowded. He suggests various
improvements, and pays q compliment 10 DR.
Whites medical ministrations.
report from Wertz to Major Turner, dated
May 18th. 1864, was also filed He would com
menee to enlarge the stockade as soon as be could
get enough negroes, and asked promotion
report from Gen John b. winder to General
Cooper. dated July 2lst, 1864, was also submit
ted, stating the numbers at IL. $780, that many are
most desperate characters; and giving the mum F..
Der of the guard, &c. He says: You speak OF
placing the pr soners properly. | do not exactly
comprehend what is intended by IL. know OF
but one way 20 place them, aud that Is 20 put
them into the stockade where they have between
Four aud five square yards to the man. This in
ciudes streets aud two acres OF ground sbou, the
stream
letter also in evidence, from Acting Adu
TAM and Inspector General Chandler, dated
Andefsonville, July 5th 1864, TO Colonel q
Hilton, Assistant Adjutant and Inspector Gene
raj at Richmond. was read. He gives an account
OF his inspection Of the prison, saying: Excepting
the edge OF the stream, the soil Ia sandy, and
easily drained. but for thirty to fifty yards on
each side OF tho stream, IL is a muddy marsh,
totally unfit for occupation, and having been used
constantly as = sink since the prison wis first
established, Il Is now in shocking condition,
and cannot fail 10 breed pestienco An effort Is
made by Captain Wertz to I'LL up the marsh aud
construct sluice there, the upper end 20 be used
for bathing, &c, and the end as a sink, but the
difficulty OF procuring lumber aud tools very
much retards the work and threatens soon TO stop
1t. No shelter whatever. nor materials for con.
structing any, have been provided by the authori-
ties, and the ground being bare OF trees. none
are within reach OF the prisoners, and il has been
impossible from the overcrowded state Of the en-
closure TO arrange the camp with any system
Each man has been permitted to protect himself
as best no can by stretching his blanket, or what
ever he may have above him. on such sticks "A
he can procure. OF other shelter there has been
none. There is no medical attendance within
tho stockade. Many (twenty yerterday) are
carted out daily who died from unknown causes,
aud whom the medical officers have never seen
The dead are hauled out daily by the wagon load
and buried without collins, their hands in many
instances being first mutlated with an AK, in the
removal OF any finger rings they may have. Raw
ratioLs have TO be issued TO a large portion who
are entirely unprovlded with proper utensils, and
furnished with so limited supply OF fuel they
are compelled to dig with their hands in the filthy
marsh before mentioned for roots. No soap or
clothing has ever been issued,
After inquiry, the writer is confident that with
slight exertions green corn could have readily
been obtained.
The hospital arrangements were only intended
for the accommodation Of 10000 men, and are
totally insufficient. both in character and extent
for the present needs, the number of prisoners
being now more than three times as great. The
number of cases requiring medical treatment is
increasing. Many are dying within the stock ade
whom the medical officers have never seen or
heard Of until their remains are brought out for
internent. The transportation Of the post is
also represented TO be entirely insufficient. aud
authority is needed by the Quartcrmaster to i'm
press wagons and teams. and saw mills, when
not employed by the Government, to afford everv
facility practicable for the transportation of lum.
Der and supplies necessary for the prisoners.
A supplementary report is made by some Off
GER in which he says the conduct OF Wertz Is en-.
titled to commentator, and that he is properly
qualified for his position, and recon- mended him
tor promotion II appears from other papers
that Assistant Secretary OF War Campbell in
dorsed the reports, saying they show condition
Of things which call for the interpositou OF the
Department, the prison being reproach TO the
Confederates as nation.
Col. Chapman also offered in evidence the re-
port OF the rebel Surgeon General Moore. TO
show that the fault ut the hospital was owing TO
DR.. White, the latter having failed to send his
req uisitions direct to the Medical Purveyor, not
having received supplies, and owing 10 his own
neglect.
Col. Chandler, it appears from another docu-
ment, suggests the removal OF Gen. Winder as
Superintendent OF prisons and the substitution of
some one who has feelings OF humanity, and who
will not, like Winder, sufer the prison TO remain
as il was in order that the excess OF prisoners
NAV be removed by disease and death
The discomforts and suffering represented
to be almost incredible. with irightiul per cent,
OF mortality. thus showing criminal indfier.
encs on the part OF those charged with their
care aud comfort.
Capt Selph ALEC svore 10 the official character
of other rebel documents, TO show that General
Winder had power 10 make Improvements Tor
the comfort of the prisoners
On cross examination, the witness mentioned
the bureaus TO which he sent extracts from
Chandler. report Answers were received from
all, but he only recollected that the one from
the Adiutant Generals Office was 10 the effect
that the hospital at Andersonvlile should be put
1 a.