Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-11-15
REMARKABLE LETTERS OF WIRZ.

He Complains that Leading Traitors Fare
Better than Himself - He Admits the
Fearful Ill treatment of Prisoners at
Andersonville-The Rebel AUTHORITIES 20
Blame-No Funds for Nine Months-The
Fearful Consequences" of this and
similar Neglects" Visited upon Him
Petitions for Jeff. Davis, but Not One for
Him What Wirz Thinks of Howell
Cobb-What He Thinks of Trenholm
WirZ's Terrible Anathemas.
1t will be recollected that in the Star Of Octo-
Der 2s, it was mentioned that Wirz had a few
days before received a letter from the gov.
erness OF his children, in which she said -
Whatever may be said, do not consider you
guilty" Also, that he had received a letter
from person in New York, who wrote as fol-
IOws:-"Although 1 consider you one of the
greatest criminals who ever lived and deserve
TO suffer such sentence as is meted out TO Won
1 deem il my duty, in view of the probability
OF your days on this earth being few to urge
you to prepare 10 meet your God and look to
Him for forgiveness. If you are guilty, make
an open confession" The writer went on 10
exhort Wirz to cease thinking of temporal
matters, and to seek repentance at the foot of
the cross.
We give below Wirz's reply TO each of these
letters, which will be found TO contain some
curious matter, especially that TO the COVER
ness, in which he complains that traitors like
j IL.
been more leniently treated than him He in
ferently admits the charges OF terrible treat
ment Of Union prisoners at Anderson vile. but
throws the responsibility upon the rebel
officials, Trenholm more especially, who left
him without funds nine months NJ Anderson
Vile, and made it impossible to provide priso.
ners with shelter, and in consequence as he
says: 81, q humble man, must now answer
with my life for the fearful consequences produced
by his (Trenholm's) and other stuRSLdr ,eolsct, -
The New York Nescs, that lately called upon
the South to clear itself of the unjust charge of
cruelty TO Union prisoners at AndersonyiIIe.
will perhaps concede now that il is a homeless
case. The anathemas poured out by Wirz ON
his "persecutors" remind one in force and
completeness of the fearful string of curses de.
voted by DR.. Slop, in Tristram Shandy, 10 the
individual who knotted the strings of his
satchel.
The letter to U. B. Smyth, it will be seen. ,s
dated October 29th, the reported date of the at
tempt of Wirz to poison himself intercepted
by Col. Baker. In reference to this report Col.
Baker informs us that there may be some mis-.
take about the date of the occurrence, but that
the main statements published in regard to tins
attempt of Wirz 10 poison himself are true, and
that Judge Holt and Col. Eckert Assistant
Secretary OF War, can youch for the fact that
he (Baker) informed them of the attempted
suicide within an hour of its occurrence. and
placed in their hands the Oil silk in which the
poison was contained:
OLD CAPITOL PRISON, WASHINGTON CRY.
u. c.. October "a, 1s65.-My Dear Miss Carrie -
our klnd letter; dated September 9th, was
handed TO me on yesterday, and will not fail
to reply to it. Before these lines reach Won i
may have gone TO my last and lasting home
1t is not TO be expected that not often, very
N " hQar Qfalc NJ fbs =
should suffer the extreme penalty of the Iauv
IN expiation of crimes alleged TO me Grimes
SO dark, so terrible, that it makes me shudder
10 tnlnk on II. crimes which never commit
ted; which no man who wears the imnrint Of
MS Maker ever did, ever could Commit Still
II rs said committed them, and will have 10
submit as well as can. Many a time have / |
asked myself the Question--(ireat God, is il |
possible that should suffer for the faults of
others. There were moments when / even
doubted that was the Captain Wirz spoken |
eaecration OF this world. Miss Carrie, this |
time is behind me. i am resigned to nv fate
whatever it may be; still my spirit is un- |
broken, my heart beats calm and fear /
less. If it is decided that L shall be the /
victim 10 be sacrificed upon the altar OF /
an offended country, l am satisfied; yea, |
idea of losing my life; the life of other men
better, greater than am, will be saved ena
bles me TO look on calm and patient God grant /
that my life will be the last one demanded -
pacfy the people. Whilst these are NV faoT
lngs in regard to myself, cannot saw ihat T
have been able yet 10 forgive those who have
sworn 10 those enormous falsehoods Ii woniS
be superhuman to expect that could No
never VIII and never can. have cprsad 49, |
ofteni my curse will leave them as INV Iega-
cy: II Will follow them standing, walking.
sitting, eating, sleeping. twill hannt them 10
.heir dying hour; like Cain shall they find no
rest, no peace, and before the tribunal of an |
an-knowing and lust God, will
Ely out against and hurl them down into the |
oottomiess pit. You will say that this is wrong |