Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-08-22
&c. &C.. &c. &C.. &c.
Military Ceurt-The Trial Of CAPITA n
WerfZ.

Court OF Claims Room. At the Capitol. Major
General Wallace, President. and Col. Chapman.
Judge Advocate.
Al 10. c'clo X Captain W ertz, the prisoner to
be tried was brought into the room. guarded on
each side by soldier. The prisoner was re
quested to rise. when Col Chapman said:
Captain Veriz YOU are to be tried by this
/ Military Commission Have YOU any personal
| objections to any of its membersi"
| Judge Hughes, the prisoners counsel, said that
/ be proposed 10 make no objection of personal
character; they would, however. at subsequent
stage OF the proceedings ask 10 be heard on
/ plea OF general jurisdiction, and especially ob
! i-cting 70 the mode of forming the court; but
/ # the prisoner to be tried by a Military
/ Commission, ne would De tried oy this
/ oue ans other.
The members OF the Commission we're then
sworn.
The Judge Advocate informed the prisoner
that no arraigned for trial uuder the name of
Hesry Wsrtr Was that the name OF the pris-
oner?
III replied that il wac
Judge Hughes desired to say that the charges
aud spec 6cations not delivered 10 the pris-
oneT until yesterday evening. and were not seen
/ by his Counsel tl this morning. therefore they
lad not time 70 examine them
Colons Chapman sad the counsel could ask
for delay for Encouragement and then proceeded
10 Fefu tiit cIlFRes aOu speCiucatiOuc Dreiefrel
against Hsnrs Wsrz. as follows:
| Charcs FIRST That he did mAlicously, viii
| fully and traitorousy aud in aid OF the ther
! exsting armed rebellion against the United
| States OF America. on or before the lst day OF
March, A ID 1864. aud on divers other dsys,
between that day and the 10Th day OF April 4,
1865, combining confederiting and consplring
together wi 2 bert L Lee James A Seldom
John II Winder, Lucius ID. NOrthrup. Richard
- "a .s.N.
Stevenson, Mason, aud Others unknown. To injure
the health and DESTROY the lives of soldiers in the
military service of the United States. .hen held
aud being held prlsones~ of war within the
called Confederate States. at the military prisons
thereof 10 the end that the armies OF the L nited
States might be weakened, in violation OF the
laws and customs of war. Specifications: Ia this
that he, Henry Wertz did combine, confederate
and conspirs with them. the said r Lee, and
Others, and who were then engaged in armed
rebellion against the United States, mslicously,
| tratorously, ana in violation of the laws Of
war, TO impair the health and TO DESTROY the
lives by su5iecting TO torture and great suffering
by confning 10 unheslihy aud unwbolesome quar-
tiers: by eXposlng TO the lneemency OF winter
| and to the burning sun OF summer; by compel
ling the ase Of impure warter and by furnishing
| insuficier; and unwholesome isod TO large
numbes ef Federal prisoners, soldiers in the nil
itary servis. OF the United States. held "a pIis-
! oners % al Andersonvllls, in the State o.
| Gcorgi- aifhi- the lines of the 30 csied Con-
1 federstc States IN or shout the let dsy at
March. A. y 1864. s,,d during tho time be-
| tween that ard the 9th day OF April, 1865 10
the end that tho Armis. of the Uuited States
might be weakened aud impaired, and the in
| snrgeut- engaged in armed rebellion against the
United States might be aided and comfortcd and
| The sai Henry " ertE an officer in the military
| service Of tbs 30 called Confederate States. be-
ing then and there com andsnt OF tbs military
! prison At AndersOnvlle in the State OF Georgis
! located by the authority Of the so-csled Confcde-
| rate States for the confinement of prisoners OF
wsr, and az such commsndant fully slot he'd with
| authority and IN duty bound treat,
care and provide for such prisoners held
as aforesaid were might have
been placed in his custody, according to
To he said war; did, in lurtherance of such con-
federation and ConfcGerscy and melted there
unto by hem, the said Robert f. Lee and Others
malcl0usly, trsitorously and Sickedly confue a
large number OF such prisoners of war, soldiers
in the military service of the United States 10
the amour, of 80 600 men. 10 unhealthy and un-
wholesome GU irters, in a close and email ares OF
ground, wholly inadequate 10 their wants. and
destructive to their health, which he we'll knew
and intended and while there 80 confined during
the time aforesaid did, in furtherarce Of the
general design and indeed Of the said conspiracy
wilfully aud malicously neglect to furnish tents
prrscks or other shelter suiti ent for their pro-
rection from the inclemency of the winter and
turning sun Of summer: and With such evil intent
id take and ctuse 10 be taken from them their
clothing, blsnkets, camp equip-ge and other
property, Of which thev we're possessed at the
ime OF being placed in his custody; and with
Ike malice and evil intent did refuse to fur
nsh or cause TO be furnished food, either Of a
quality or quantity to preserve from death
or sustSin lite. and did refuse and neglect
20 furnish wood sufficient for cooking in summer
md 10 keep said prisoners warm ia winter and
lid compe the said prisoners to subsisr upon un
~holesome water reeking With the filth ard
garb &c Of the prison and prison yard and ofil
aud drainage of the cook house OF said prison
whereby he prisoners became greatly reduced in
bodily strength and eI1sciated aud inhrm in
their bodily health, their minds impaired and
their inteilects broken. aud many Of them. TO
ait IN thousands. whose names uDkRovD,
sickensd AL died bY reason thereof which the
said Henry WeFtz then and there well knew and
intended and 20 knowing and intending. did re-
fuse aud neglect 10 provide proper lodgings
food or nourshment Tor the sick. or medicine
and meiical Attendance for tue restoration Of
their health aud I'D. knowingly and iliuly
IN furt france OF his evil designs, uermit them Ia
: itngu - and die for want o. care aud proper
treatment. aud the said Henry eriz, sull pur
>elsk Us e't purposes, Ole fcfu!it 10 remain 10
ne lid prison among tho EN- ,cisied sick spt
lsngeshing living. the bodies Of the dead, until
they became corrupt aud loa,hsome snd 4 ed she
81. with noXious smells. ana ther,b7 greatly
increased the uDHhol esomensss Of The prison. in
somuch tat great numbers OF saic prisoners
to- Wit: the number Of 10 900. whose names are
unknown, sickeusd ard diet oy reason thereof
and said Berry Nertz. stiil pursuing ~ wick ed
snd oruel rur oes, wholly disregsrdug me
ussres % esgl Al waftsre did a, the time and
place sfesessl-. s-45cous.. subject zoe prisoners
| afofe, .ii e efne. u.a.e sng Infamous uuaish
ment u15a 8 s.EA trivial an fictitious preteose
by faster large bali 70 their feet aud oinGina
a large namhar 9i he prisoners Gioresaid closel
together ~ chains Srsuci their necks Ahd feet
20 that thsy walked "a the greatest fieulty
and 30 eoaabsi as-s sub ec,ed to TIE burning ray:
? of the sss otssn without food drink. every
day, fson rai.h cruel treatment large numbers
one ih2usaLi Ehoss nance are unknown
{ -ckenst .-in-sd and died: and hen the saiC
View aia farlasr cruelty treat said prisoners b.
ns.icousiy coutuug them With 81 instrument o
torture in stocss, t6Es ceprSirg then of the o
: their limbs ana forcing them to lie and stand To-
5 many hours. ssd out OF the power Of changing