The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1865-08-24


HsS- The Military Commission appointed
Tor the trial Of Capt. Wirz, late Confederate
officer in charge Of the Andersonville depot
for Federal prisoners of war; has at last got
to work, and we find the first days proceed
lngs in the Washington Star of August 21st
las this is the first trial since the end of the
war Of a Confederate officer, the trial and the
conclusions arrived at, will be looked for with
great interest by the people of all sections of
the country. The charges and specifications
are OF the most serious character, and we trust
they will be thoroughly sifted To this end
1t will be necessary to call to the stand manv
Of the great leaders who figured on both sides
Of the great struggle which has so recently
ended. 1t will be seen that the name of Gen.
Lee has been introduced We presume this
Will not hinder him from becoming witness.
We shall certainly have the benefit of the evil
dence OF Generals Grant, and Butler, and
Hitchcock, and Milford on the subject of ex
changes and it may be that the responsibility
may be fixed where it belongs of that cruel
decision which prevented the continued ex
change Of prisoners. We know nothing what
ever OF the personal conduct of Captain Wirz
towards the prisoners under his charge. II
may have been cruel or it may have been
lenient. Let us have all the facts, and if any,
body has been murdered, directly or indi-
rectly, let the murderer bear the penalty At
tached to his crime.
Capt. Wirz is arraigned under two charges:
Charge l.--Maliciously, wilfully and trail
torously, and in aid of the then existing armed
rebellion against the United States of Ameri-
ca, on or before the first day of March, A. D.
1864, and on divers other days between that
aay and the tenth day of April. 1865, COM
bmng, contederating, and conspiring together
with Robt. E. Lee, James A. Seldom. John 81
Winder, Lucius D. Northrop, Richard B.
Winder, Joseph White, w. S. Winder, R. R.
Stevenson, - Moore, and others unknown.
to injure the health and destroy the lives of
soldiers in the military service of the United
States, then held and being prisoners of war
within the lines of the so-called Confederate
States and IN the military prisons thereof, to
the end that the armies Of the United States
might be weakened and impaired; in violation
OF the laws and customs of war
Charge 2.-Murder, in violation of the laws
and customs of war
These charges are supported by fourteen
specifications The first, and only specifica-
ton to the first charge, sets forth a variety of
eruelties practiced by Capt. Wirz upon the
prisoners, such as starvation, "ball and chain"
the "a St0pHc " blo1o Al.
dead-line," &C., &C.
The thirteen specifications accompanying the
second charge, give in detail the shooting and
killing, by Capt Wirz, with a revolver, of a
certain person, name unknown; Of confirming
10 the stocks certain person, name unknown,
till death ensued of using the "bal and
chain" on a certain person, name unknown,
till death ensued of binding the heads and
feet of certain prisoner together, for such
length of time that death ensued of ordering
. prisoner to be shot who had crossed the
" dead line" from which death ensued; of the
use of blood-hounds in re-capturing prisoner,
from which death ensued; of beating pri-
soner with revolver, from which death en-
sued,
70 MI of which Capt Wirz, through his
counsel Mr.. Hughes, said the prisoner had
only received a copy yesterday, and the coun-
eel first seen them this morning. A few weeks
since he had an entirely different set of charges
furnished him. upon which he had prepared
the defense. He would submit if the prisoner
should be required to plead at so short
notice.
Col. Chapman stated that the only new
charge was conspiracy.
The second charge and its specifications were
in substance the same as those furnished the
accused two weeks ago, and upon which the
prisoner had prepared his defense. AS the
first charge was only that of conspiracy, and
much less important, it was not supposed that
the prisoner would require any future delay
for his plea.
Mr.. Hughes said that the order convened a
military commission not to try particular
case, but such cases as were brought before it.
1t does not appear from the record that this
case is sent here for trial--the charges under
which Wirz is to be tried are signed by the
Judge Advocate of the Ceurt---they should
have emanated from the same authority that
convened the Court.
Judge Advocate Chapman said the order
provided that the Commission should try such
cases as were properly brought before it, and
argued that the terms of the order were COM
piled with, and the trial should 20 on.
At this juncture the doors were closed, and
opened again at 2,25 when Colonel Chapman
stated the Court decided to override the plea,
and further to allow the prisoner until IL
o'clock tomorrow