Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1865-09-15
The Wertx Trial.

WASHINGTON Sept. 5-The wertz trial
to-day consisted Of the usual narrative OF
horrors Connected with the Andersonville
pri-en aud the 6endish cruelty or Werts.
j. Nelson Clark. Union prisoner. testi-
fed that oo one day Of last year he counted
l54 dead men in the stoekade. lie mention
cd lie case OF an insane soldier, who walked
up and down by the stream, refusing to
wear clothes. and who had not sense enough
t. know that he must cook his ratioue. lie
ended bis life by suicide. Another prison.
er destroyed his lie by hanging, after de-
claring that he would rather die than remain
in the stockade. Witness knew SIX instan-
ces where men had been shot for getting
beyond the dead line.
Vincent Harry of tie 12d New York regi-
ment, in his evidence described the sufierings
Of $50 men who had been vaccinated with
poisonous matter.
Joseph R. Achuff. of the Gath Ohio regi-
ment testified that he got away from the
AndcTsonvilie PRISON. but was recaptured.
he ran into swamp and soon saw i've
hounds and seven rebels on horseback. Inc
hounds were not taken Of Of him for ID
minutes, daring winch time be had to fight
them with has fists. He had nothing upon
him but pair ol partitions made of two
rebtl meal sacks. lie still carries the marks
OF the biung on bis legs. The horn was
blown as signal to take the hounds Oft. lie
we- taken before Writ. who ordered HIM
10 re put in the stocks, where be wac ez-
posed 10 the eun. lie was thus punished
for SO hours, and during that time had only
two drinks cut OF the muddy creek. When
he spoke 10 WirtZ about bis treatment he
wa t-ld 10 dry up OF he would have HE
brains blown out. Alter being taken out OF
the stocks he was ironed. When the irons
were removed it was pretended that the
rebel physician ordered it, when the fact
was they were afraid OF Sherman. having a
white flag hanging out all the time. This
was in July. 1864. The squad of 90 men to
which witness was attached being in IUlera-
Die good condition. could stand up IN line
pretty well. but others could not. Weriz
sand tie would not give the latter anything to
cat for rs hours, and he kept bis word.
On the Sd, 4th and 5th of july rations were
Cat off because some prisoners had escaped.
Witness had seen Wertz searching the
prisoners and appropriatIng their yaluabies.
Witness hims, Ii had been previously robbed
by zen. Wheeler of his pocketbook, contain
ing So cents and three postage stamps
ing Il his hat and placing 1t on bis own
head.
ID. W. Bussinger testified that when h
and his companions were conveyed to Ander
sonyile they were during four hours exposcC
TO a burning sun, and some of the men wcr'
sun struck. Wertz was there and gave or
ders that ii any one stepped out of line III
should be shot. Wertz also said II any
asked for water they should be shot, accom-
panying the remark with dcuuncistiOns o
the id Yankees. While many lay faint
ing Weriz said it it was in his power b.
w;uld make the victory complete WItnes
had seen prisoners searching in the hlti
which had parsed through mtn for particle
OF uDdisestcd food A man who -howe'
Wertz his ration of corn bread, and sske'
whether better could not be FURNISHED me
with the rospJn-,-'.G Tuu. II
give you bullets for bread. There wer
nOt links enough for one twei.rleth ct 10
prisoners. The swamp was more than TOO
deep with human tXcrement. THIS spcile'
TIE water in the WELL.
Robert Morton. belonging u . Peansy
yaria regiment. tss,ifi-d that ne Tad see
Nuiz WAGERING shirts which had been SEM
our prisoners 10y the Sanitary Commission.
witness aisp testified that W,.rtz reInarss
on ure "vcasIun that il l.e could have hi
own WAY not jwenfv-iour linen on Tie sout
side would get away ~ exchange OF paI
ole
Franz Saisox tr,"rr.l Testified a. 80 IL
cru'i;ir- e" ii zee. iuciu'iIng ril- ia-hin
oi su, b. Ie LiGRs - same oi TIE lul-. ncrs ,
Ii own i-r. L. 81. "..,,z. ~,-..,- IS, &,
CIV -Ia. '.in1rke az H. TO-. 'i',1. "a
leuN',- "a, il-t -i--, r,my g. i;-t.f '.s.
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