The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-08-22
THE WIRZ TRIAL.
Commencement Of the Proceedings Of the
Military Commission In the Case Of the
Keeper Of the AndersOnville Prison.
Horrible Crimes with Which
He is Charged.
How the Prisoners in His
Charge were Maltreated.
,~---~~~c~>-- -
Exposed and Starved, WiIfulIy Shot,
Poisoned by Foul Vaccine Matter
!. and Torn to Pieces BY Dogs.
-~~>~~--~~~~~-~~>>-~~>c.,
HORRIBLE CATALOGUE OF CRIMES.
General Leo, Hog" vUinder, 7. y.
1Gorthrop and Others Ar.
raigned with Wirz.
~~~~>~~~~~~~
hey are Charged with Having COnspired with |
Him to Murder Our Soldiers.
&c. sc. &C. !,
HORRIBLE CATALOGUE OF CRIMES.
General Lee, Hog" Vuinder, Z. y.
1Gorthrop and Others Ar.
raigned with Wirz.

&C. sc. &C.
rsrt ,,s---r-sz... ---~~s2N.
WASHINGTON, August 81. 1856
The special Military Commission convened this after
ION in the Court Of Claims room, at tie Capitol Major
eneral Wallace President and Coor. .el Chpman Judge
avocate So -.
At half past one O'Clock Captain wirz the prisoner TO
tried, was brought into rae room, guarded on each
de by soldier. The prisoner requested 10 rise,
hen Colonel Chapman gaid:-
'Captan wirz you are to be tried by this Military Com
ssion. Have you any personal objection to any Of its
Iefnberssn
Judge HuGHEs Of the counsel said he proposed 10
pake objection Of personal character They would,
owever, At subsequent stage Of the proceedings ask
heard the plea Of general jurisdiction, especially
becting TO tho mode Of constituting the court But
hs prisoner was to be tried by military commission be
Pould soon be tried by this one as any other
X The members Of the commission then sworn.
The JUDGE Advocate informed the prisoner that he
naigned for trial under the name Of Henry wirz.
Vas that the namefr
The prisoner replied that II was.
Judge HuGHss desired to say that the charges and
pscncations were not delivered to the prisoner until
sstsFday afternoon, and not by his counsel
examine them. ~,
THE CHARGES AND SPECIFICATIONS.
Colonel CHAPMAN said the counsel could ask for delay
fer the arragnment and then proceeded to read the
harges specifications preferred against Henry wirz
. follows gN
Charge First -Malicously wilfully and tratorously
nd in aid of the then existing armed rebellion against
sna on HS
hat day and the tenth day OF April, 1866, combining
onfederating and consPirng together with Robert 2
op Richard B. winder Joseph White, W. 5. winder,
r. Stevenson, - Moore and others unknown, TO
jure the health and destroy the lives of soldiers the
eins prisoners Of within the Ines Of the socaed
onfederate States and in the military prisons thereof
the end that the armies Of the United States might be
Weakened and impaired, in violation OF the laws and
customs Of war.
I'D combine, confederate and conspire with them the
aid Robert T. Lee James 4. Seddon, John H. winder
.rcus H Northrop, Richard B. winder, Joseph White
yhose names unknown, citizens Of the United States
foresaid and who were then engaged in armed rebellion
violation Of the laws Of war to impair and inure the
health and to destroyhe lives by subecting TO torture
nd great suffering, BY combining in unhealthy and un.
wholesome quarters by exposing to the nclemency Of
virter and to the burning Of summer, by compelling
he use Of impure water, and by furnishing insufficient
,nsrs, soldiers in the military service Of the United
sates Of America, held as prisoners Of
.ar At Andersonville in the State Of Geor-
;tates on or before the lst day of March, A. D. 1894
Ind st divers times between that day and the 10th day
9 April D. 1885, TO the end that the armies OF the
United States might be weakened and impaired, and the
Insurgents engaged armed rebellion against the United
hates might be aided and comforted and he the said
Henry Wirz ofhcer in the military service OF the go
allied Confederate States, being then and there COM
nandant Of military prison at Andersonville, In tho
s States hs Of %
var and as such commandant, fully clothed with au-
hory and In duty bound 70 treat care and provide for
sacb prisoners held aforesaid, as were or might be
placed in his custody according to the law Of did, in
urtherance Of such combination confederation and con-
pracy and melted thereunto by them, the said Robert
& Lee, James A. Seldom, John H. Winder, Lucius H.
Winder, Il. r. Stevenson, - Moore, and others whose
,usy con6ne large number Of such prisoners Of war;
,oders In the military service Of the United Staes TO
The amount OF thirty thousand men, In unhealthy and
lnwholesome quarters in close and small Of ground
wholly inadequate TO their wants and destructive TO their
health which he well knew and intended; and while
here confined during the time aforesaid, did in fur
herance Of his evil design and In aid Of the said
piracy, wifully and maciousy neglect to furnish
ents barracks or other shelter sufficient for their pro
sction from the inclemency Of winter and the dews
md burning sun Of summer; and with such
,vil intent did take and cause TO be taken from
hem their clothing Blankets camp equipage and other
property OF which they possessed at the time OF
being placed In his custody; and with like malice and
vi intent did refuse to furnish cause to be furnished
food, either Of quality quantity sufficient 10 pre-
erv health and sustain e and did refuse and neglect
10 furnish wood sufficient for cooking in summer and
70 keep the said prisoners in winter, and did com
pei the said prisoners to subsist upon unwholesome
water reekng with the Nth and garbage OF the prison
md prison yard and the oal aud drainage Of the cook
house Of said prison, whereby the prisoners became
greatly reduced In their bodily strength and enacaied
and injured In their bodily health, their minds i'm
paired and their intele1s broken and many Of themo
wit: ten thoussud-whose names are unknown, sick
ened and died by reason theseof, which he tc said
Henry wnz, then and there well knew and Intended
and SO knowing and evny intending did rssnse and
gbct to provide proper lodgings food or nourshmeDt foi
the siok and necessary medce and medical attendance
Cor the restoration OF their health, and did knowingly
malciousy and wifuhy, in furtherance OF his evil de
signs permit them 10 angush and de from want Of cays
ahd proper treatment. And the said Henry Wirz, sts
pursung his evil purposes did permit TO remain In the
said prison among the emacated sick and langushinl
ving the bodies Of the dead until they became corrupt
and oahsome and filed the air with fetd and noxiou'
sxhaatons and thereby greatly increased the unwhoIc
someness OF the prison, insomuch that great number
of said psoners-to wit the number OF one thousand
whose names are unknown, sckencd ana oieo Dy
reason thereof And tho said Henry Wirz stu pursuing
mis- wicked and cruel purpose, wholly dsregardng TINS
usagcs Of civilized warfare did, at the time and place
aforesaid nalcously and wflly subject the prisoners
aforesaid TO cruel, unusual and infamous punishment
upon slight trivial and fictitious pretences by fastening
large balls Of iron 10 their feet and binding large mum
bers Of the prisoners aforesaid closely together VIII
large chains around their necks and feet 30 that they
walked with the greatest difficulty; and being 30 con
ancd were subjected 10 the burning rays OF the sun
cfcn without food drink for hours and even days
IRON, which said cruel treatment large numbersto W.T.
she number OF one hundredwhose names are unknown
eickened tainted and died And ne the said Wirz die
further cruoly treat and njure said pris0pers BY ma
Nciousy combining them within instrument OF torture
jailed tne stocks, thus deprivlng them OF the use Of
Neir lirbs and forcing them 20 lie and stand foI
hours without povor cln hanging poatou And