Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1865-08-26
ANDERsONvrK.LB PRISON.
a Legal HnquIry Hnto it's Terrsrs
nrsd Horrors.
Commencement of the Trial of the Keeper
ri Captain Wirs
WAsuINeToN, August 81.


A Il. WASHINGTON, August 81.
The special Military Commission conven-
ed this afternoon, in the Court Of Claims
room, at the Capitol Major General Wal
lace, President; and Colonel Chipman, Judge
Advocate. AT IL O'Clock, Captain Wrs, the
prisoner 90 lie tried, was brought into the
room, guarded on each side by a soldier.
ihe prisoner was re quested to rise, when |
Colonel Chpman said:
: Captain Wirz you are to be tried by the !
Military Commission. Have you any per
sonal objection to any OF its members
Judge Hughes, of the counsel, said they
proposed to make mo objection Of a personal
character, They would, however at a sub
I sequent state of the proceedings, ask to bs
heard on the plea of general jurisdiction.
especially objectipg to the mode of consti-
tuting the court; but, if the prisoner was to
be tried by Military Commission, he would
as soon be tried by this one as any other.
The members of the Commission were
, then sworn. 90. l..ai.,,I -.. f..... .l|. ..g
The Judge Advocate informed the pri
soner that he was arraigncd for the trial un-
der the name of Henry Wirz. Was that the
name 2 ,g ss.g .r -.,..tn 81
The prisoner replied that it was. ... -.t \
Judge Hughes desired to say that the
charges and specifications were not deliver
ed to the prisoner until yesterday afternoon,
| and were not seen by his counsel until this
morning. Therefore, they had not sufficient
| time to examine them. qa. ..E- r.
Colonel Chapman said The counsel could
ask for delay after the arraignment, and
| then proceeded to read the charges and
specifications preferred against Henry Wirz,
as follows:l u..alf r.D..t .- -. g. ....
THE CHANGES AND SPECIFICATIONS. u.ui
Charge lst-Malciously, wilfully and trail
| torously, and in aid of the then existing re-
bellion against the United States of Ameri-
ca, on or before the 1st day of March, A. d.
| 1864, and on divers other days, between
| that day and the 10th day of April. 1865.
combining, confederatng, and conspirng
together. with Robt. L. Lee, Jas. A. Seldom
John ii. Winder, Lucius ID. Northrop, Rich
ard B. Winder, r. r. Stevenson Moore, and
Others unknown, to impair health, and de-
stroy the lives of soldiers in the military
service of the United States, then held, and
being prisoners of war within the lines of
the socalled Confederate States, and in the
military prisons thereof, to the end, and that
the armies of the United States might he
weakened and impaired, in violation of the
laws and customs of war.
SpecifcdtiOn.-In this that he the said
Henry Wirz did combine, confederate, and
! conspirc with .hem. the said RObt L. Lee,
James A. Seldom, John II. Winder, Lucius
ID. Northarp, Richard b. Winder, Joseph
White. w. S. Winder, r. r. Stevenson Moore
and Others whose names are unknown, citi-
zens of the United States aforesaid. and who
were then engaged in armed rebellion
against the United States, maliciously, trai-
torously, and in violation of the laws of war,
to impair and injure the health, and to de-
stroy the lives, by sul,ject;ng to torture and
great suffering; 10y confning in unhealthy
and unwhoiesome quarters; by exposing to
the inclemency OF winter and to the dews
and burning sun of summer; hy compelling
the use OF impure water, and by furnishing
insufficient and unwholesome food. of large
numbers of Federal prisoners, soldiers in the
military service of the United States of
America, held as prisoners of war at Ander-
sonville, in the State of Georgia, within the
lines of the so-called Confederate States, on
or before the first day of March, A. d. 1864,
and at divers times between that day and
the 10th of April, A. d. 1865, to the end
that the armies of the United States might
be weakened and impaired, ard the insur-
gents engaged in armed rebellion against the
United States might be aided and comfort
ed and he .he said Henry Wrz, an officer
in the military service of the 81 called Con
federate States, being then commandant ofa
military prison at AndeIsonville, in the State
OF Georgia, located by authority of the So
called Confederate States for the cOntine
'"N"' VI t.i-,.--.- r .- ana 20 snch co,n.
mandant fully clothed withauthorty and in
duty bound to treat. care, and provide for
such prisoners held as aforesaid as might be
placed in lis custody, according to the laws
oi war; did in furtherance of such combina.
ton, confederation, and conspiracy, and in
tlDrpnntn tl.c criI 7
james y. Seddon. John ii. Winder, Joseph
White, w. 5. Windcr, II. II. S. Moore, and
Others whose names are unknown, malicious
ly wiekedly and traitorously contine a large
number OF such prisoners Of war, soldiers III
the military serviceof the United States, to
the amount of 10000, in unhealthy and un-
wholesome quarters, in q close and small
area OF ground, wholly inadequate to their
wants, and destructive to their health, which
he well knew and intended, and while there
so confined, during the time aforesaid, did
IN furtherance of his evil design and in view
oi the said conspiracy, wiliully and malici,
ousiy neglect to furnish tents. barracks, oil
other shelter sufficient for their protection
from the inclemency of the weather, ard the
dews and burning sun o. summer, and with
such evil intent did take, and cause to be-
tukeE for them, their clothing, blankets
S1N'P"SN, "hu otutI pIbptIll VI WHICH
they were possessed at the time of being
placed IN his custody; and, with lide malice
and evil intent, did refuse to furnish, OF
cause to be furnished. food, either of quail
ty or quantity sufficient to preserve health
and to sustain life; and did refuse and neg
iect to furnish wood sufficient for cooking
ing IN summer, and to keep the said persons
warm IN wlnter; and did compel the said
prisoners to subsist upon the unwholesome
water, reeklng with the filth and garbage
OF the prison and prison guard, and the offal
ana drainage OF the cook house Of said prri
son, whereby the prisoners became greatly
REDUCED IN their bodily strength, and emaci.
atea and injured in their bodily health
their minds Impaired. and their intellects
broken, and many of them, to wit: the mum.
per oi ten thousand, whose names are un.
known, sickened and died by reason thereof.
whicn ne, the said Henry WIrz, then and
.nefe wen Knew and Intended, and so know.
ing and wiifully intending, did refuse and
neglect oProyide proper Iodgngs, food or
nonrishment for the sick, and necessary
medicine, and medical attendance for the re.
storation OF their health rand did knowing
W Wiiuiiy and malifiously, in fnrtherance
OF ms evil desigs, permit them to lauguish
"a m af = 7