Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1865-09-29
The Win Trial.

In the WIr1 trial, Thureday, j. Burn
; Walker gave testimony to previous accounts
in regard to dastardly speech made b,
Howell Cobb at AndersonviIle about nangins
. prisoners, &c. Cobb also recommended Wir;
as a meritorious and Efficient officer.
Ambrose Spencer, residing nine mile. from
Andersonville, testified to the wretched con-
1ition of the prison. The odor from the
stockade could be detected two miles of the
country was fertile and densely wooded. The
crops IN 1864, including vegetables, were
large. Witness knew of ladies in the neigh
borhood gathering clothing and food for the
relief Of the prisoners. Gen. Winder said,
with an oath. that he believed the whole
country was becoming Yankeeized. and he
would put a stop to it. Wirz subsequently
said that if he had his way, he would have a
house built for prostitution in which he would
place the benevolent women.
DR.. B. J. Head, VINO was on duty as q
surgeon at Andersonville in July and August,
1864. testified to the suferings Of the pris-
oners from disease and want Of proper diet.
lie and his wife sent supplies, and he in con-
sequence was outrngeously abused by Winder
and others
| Charles H. Russell was recalled and related
two instances of cruelty by Ja1es Duncan,
a rebel in charge of the distribution OF bread.
| He kicked n man who asked for a crust, 80
that be died, and treated another man simI-
larly for the same request.
Witness was asked If Duncan was in Court,
and replied that be was and pointed him out.
Duncan, after standing up and showing HIM
seli was informed by the Court that he must
remain there. He is witness for the de-
fence.
w w. Crandall was recalled and testified
to Duncan's taking picture from a man in
tile stocks and helping himself to other
prisoners money.
Samuel NJ. Riker testified that prisoners
were robbed, both at Richmond and Ander-
sonvilc.
E. 6. Smith testified to the killing OF a
prisoner by sentinel, by order Of Wirz, for
reaching beyond the dead line.
Benjamin B. Dixie, rebel railroad agent |
at AndersonyIlle, testified that there was a /
good deal of provisions, including vegetables,
there at all times
Ambrose Hcnshaw testified to seeing q man
shot for reaching over the dead line for
crumb of bread.
Thomas Walsh testified that no rations
were issued March 20, 1864, and not until
3 O'Clock on the next day none April |,
and not until next day at clock, and then
only pint Of meal and two or three ounces
Of mule flesh The prisoners got rations July
4th, but being full ot maggOts, threw them
away. Wirz said, on one occasion " May
God Almighty damn me forever, If do not
shoot with my revolver the first man who
attempts to leave the ranks
WASHINGTON, Sept. %.
DR.. Hopkins, who was appointed in July,
1864, with Surgeon White, TO examine the
Andersonville Prison. produced letter to
Gen. Winder, in which be reported that the
causes Of diseases and mortality was very
large among the prisoners. There was an
entire absence OF vegetables, want Of bar
racks, inadequate supply Of food and water,
badly cooked food. filthy condition Of the
prisoners, morbid emanatiUns from the rayines
and that he recommended the immediate re-
moval Of 500 prisoners, as detail to cul-
Iivate vegetables. the immediate erection of
and furnish necessary wood and
have wells dug; TO divide the prisoners into
squads, under sergeant, to be furnished
with soap, furnish to the prisoners with cloth
ing. and if unable to do this. 10 notify the
Federal Government the daily inspection oi
ba ake-nouses and the cooking to cover with
,and the mo-asses, and adopt other sanitary
Tie also made sundry recommend
atoms to improve the hospital arrangements,
which were greatly inadequate. :
Or. Hopkins testified that be submitted his
report to surgeon White, who said it was
truthful, and he would sign it and transmit
{ to Gen Winder, bot he did not sign it
The witness did not know whether anything
mad been done to carry out the sugges-
ions.
Judge Advocate Chipman then submitted
me General Order OF Gen. Winder ~ DR..
Hopkins. to show that the Richmond su-
horities knew the condition OF the Ander- ]
onyille prison. and that Winde: had author j
ty to apply remedy.
On DR.. Hopkins cross examination, he Z
al it Was Winder's implicit confidence in I
WIrz, that caused this state of things tO c
xist. a
DR.. Rice was on duty at Andersonville -
lie also testified to the terrible conditiJu OF
he prisoners, corrobOrating previous testi-
nOny.
Two more soldiers. who had been priso- ,
lers there, repeated the horrors Of the pen,
when the commissi N adjourned.