The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1865-09-07
THE wIRz TRIAL.
TESTIMONY oP SURGEONS BATES, BUR
ROWS, &C. ..-. ..


before the Wirz Commission this morn.
ing. TWAS with reference to the con.
dition Of the prisoners at Anderson
vile. According to bis narration, the
s;urvy was next TO rotteDness, with
which many ofthe men suffered; Many
starved TO death because Of the pauci
ty and unwholesomeness of the rations;
and in consequence Of gangreDe there
were frequent amputations and ream-
putations of limbs.
Tie Commission then took recess
until two o'clock P. N.
WASHINGTON, August 25.-Dr. A. W.
Burrows testified to having been sent
as a prisoner to Andersonville, and de-
tanned as surgeon in the prison there,
but after being there about six months
escaped. He gave an interesting &C.
count of how our prisoners, who at
tempted to make their escape, were
punished with the stocks or chain
gang. He testified as TO the INSULT
cheney and unwholesome character Of
the rations, and absence Of medical
supplies, and gave a sickening account
of the cruelties to the prisoners. Blood
hounds were actually employed to cap
ture escaping prisoners. Among other
things, be said that the men were vac
cinated with impure matter, from the
effect of which many died. When the
prisoners were being removed from
AndersonviIle one Of the Union pri
soners fell back, when Wirz knocked
him down and jumped on him.
The Court room was crowded with
spectators this morning, including
many women.
Captain Wirz was brought in few
minutes before II o'clock.
The record Of yesterday having been
read at length, the examination of DR.
John @. Bates was resumed.
Speaking of Andersonville prison, he
said the scurvy there was next TO rot
tenness; some Of the prisoners could
not eat because there was no mastica-
ton; their teeth were loose and they
frequently asked him to give then
something to eat which would no
cause pain; while DR.. Stevenson was
Medical Director he did not manifcs
much interest in the relief of their ne
cessities; the rations were less thar
twenty ounces in twenty four hours
be did not know but what a man woult
starve to death on it, especially if the
food was of a few articles and monoto
nous; sometimes the meat was gooC
and sometimes bad ; in consequence o
the paucity and Embellishments o
the rations some of the men starved Il
death amputations and reamputa
tions owing 10 the gangrenous wounds
were numerous; there was plenty o.
wood in the neighborhood, which
might have been cut 70 answer all de
mands
There was on one occasion an alter,
cation between DR.. James and Captain
Wirz. On going into the hospital, DR.
James learned that his chief clerk had
been arrested, and ordered TO undergo
the buck and gag. The clerk wal
buclled and set outside of the gate
On inquiry, DR.. James found the clerl
had neglected to report "a man witt
was missing. DR.. James wrote let
ter speaking of the Wirz tyranny, ant
the clerk still continued TO be punish
cd. 81.
A sketch in pencil, drawn by one oI
the inmates of the prison, was exhibit
ed to the witness, who said There il
DR.. Bates No. /, examining the quail
ty of beef, Here is DR.. Bates No 2
giving meat and bones to crippled
soldiers"
1t was his prerogative, as officer o
the day, to supervise the cooking -
When rations were to be issued, b,
would frequently go to the place.
Sometimes twenty or one hundred
would surround him impIoring fol
meat. That was of frequent occurrence
The sketch was accurate as far as i
went, but it was not filled. There
ought to be twenty or forty figures il
the space where only one appeared.
The men, as sketched, hobbled along
on crutches; others crawled on The
ground, with tin cups in their mouths
because they could carry these articles
in no other way. They wanted tC
mash up bones to procure their con
tents for food. Mr.. Baker, remarked
DR.. Bates, looked much better on tht
witness stand than he did in the sketch
The witness thanked the gentleman
for the compliment.
The Judge Advocate proposed to of
fer, in evidence, q morning report o
the Surgeon, actirg as officer Of th'
day, and asking the witness 10 exam
inc the handwriting.
Mr.. Baker objected, saying the pri
soner was charged with conspiracy anC
murder. If the defendant had con
spired with other parties, these mus
be before the Court. No Court coulc
put in testimony ia relation to othe
parties and try them in their absence
Whatever was put in must bear ol
the person before the Court he ask
ed whether the Court could try per
sons not before it. The evidenc
sought to be introduced was not strict
ly applicable to the defendant. Their
was nothing 10 connect Captain Wir
with this morning report, and witt
the surgeon in charge.
The Judge Advocate supposed To
gentleman was perfectly aware tha
the parties to q conspiracy could b
tried singly, to save time, he woul,