The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1865-11-17

confederating and conspiring with JEFF. Da-
Wis, j. A. Seddop, Howell Cobb, Jno. H.
Winder, W. Shelby Reed, II. r. Stevenson.
+. Moore, Kerr, late Hospital Steward at
Andersonville, Jas. Duncan, Wesley w.
Turner, Benjamin Harris, and others whose
names are unknown, and who we're then en-.
gagged 10 armed rebellion against the United
States, maliciously, traitorously, and in vio-
iation of the laws Of war, to impair and in
Jure the health, and to destroy lives by sub.
lecting them to torture and great suffering;
by conhninug 10 unhealthy end uuwholesome
quarters; BY exposing to the inclemepcy OF
the winter, and to the dews and burning sun
of summer; by compelling the use Of impure
water, aud by Furnishing insufficient and IN.
wholesome food to large numbers Of Federal
prisoners, to wit: The number Of about 49,
600, held as prisoners of war o, Anderson
Vile. within the lines of the So called Con-
federate States, on or before the 9th Of
March, 1864, and at divers times between
that day and the 10th of April, 1865, to the
end that the armies of the United States
might be weakened and impaired, and that
the insurgents engaged 10 armed rebellion
against the United States might be aided
and comforted, etc., eto. The order also
states that the prisoner was found guilty Of
the second charge, namely: Murder in vic.
lation OF the laws and customs of war, and
guilty of all specifications, excepting the 4tb.
10th and 18th, which three set forth that
he killed prisoner BY shooting him with Q
revolver; that he ordered sentinel to fire
upon another with o revolver, and that he
shot another with revolver 30 that be died.
The order concludes as follows:
Aud the Court do thereby sentence him,
| Henry Wirz, to be hanged by the neck until
dead at such time and place as the President
of the United States may direct, two.thrcs
OF this Court concurring herein; and the
Court also find the prisoner, Henry Wirz,
guilty of having caused the death, in the
| manner as alleged in specification II charge
2, by means of dogs, of three prisoners Of
war. in bis custody, and soldiers of the Uni.
ted States. One occurring on or about the
10Th day of May, 1864. Another occurring
op, or about the llth day Of July, 1854
Another occurring on or about tho 1st day
| of September, 1864, but which finding 90
here expressed, has not, and did not, enter
into the sentence of the Court, as before
given. 3D. The proceedings, findings and
sentence in the foregoing case, having been
submitted to the President of the United
States, the following is his order:
| EXECUTIVE MANSION, !
| WASHINGTON, Nov. g. =
The proceedings. findings. and sentence
of the Court in the within case are approved,
and it is ordered that the sentence be carried
into execution BY the officer commanding
the Department. of Washington, on Friday,
the 10th day Of November. 1866. between
the hours OF six o'clock in the morning and
Isignedj ANDREW JOHNSON.
! President of the United Ststes.
| Tbird-Major- General @. C. Aueur. com.
manding the Department of Washington, 10
commanded to cause the foregoing sentence
in the case of Henry Wirz to be duly execu.
ted in accordance With the Presidents or
der. - ,.lg...
Fourth-The Military Commission, of
which Major. General Lewis Wallace, of the
United States Tolunteers, is President. ID
hereby dissolved by command of the Presi.
dent of the United States. gIs-
(signed] e. D. TOWNSEND,
Acting Adju.ant General.
When the reading Of the order was com.
-pleted, Wirx eonversed with those on the
platform with seeming confidence and self.
possession, and IL was remarked shat Re had
smiling countenance. To bis spiritual sd.
visers be said, II am innocent. / have to
die, but can die like man. have hope
in the future ! have nothing more to say"
His legs and hands we're then tied, the
moose placed around bis neck, and tho
black cap over bis face. He stood erect,
without falteriDg, evidently having nerved
himself for the solemn event. Those on
the platform then retired to the railing,
leaving the doomed man in the centre Of
the structure. After few moments of
profound quiet the drop at preconcerted
signal fell. The sound thus occasioned
reached the ears of the prouiscuous crowd
outside OF the Old Capitol grounds, but who
were not privileged to view the execution,
and was responded to by repeated shouts Of
appreciation. The convict directly after
falling was considerably convu!6ed in his
legs, but bis agony was soon over. He
hung about fifteen minutes, and then vas
cut down. His body was laid upon q
stretcber and conveyed to bis friends, where
be was placed in Q coffin and transferred to
Father Boyle for interment. His neck was
broken by the fall. ALI the proceedings oe.
cupied about throe.quarters of an hour.
LETTER FROM wIRz.
The following letter was written BY Wirs
before mounting the Bcafold: ,...
Mr.. ScHABE:
DEAR SIR:-,It 10 no doubt the last time
shall express myself to you. What have
said to you often and often, repeat accept
my thanks, my sincere, heartfelt thanks for
all you have done for me. May God reward
you, cannot. Still have snmethng more
to ask of you, and I'm confident you will not
refuse to receive my dying request.
Please help my family, my dear wife and
children. War. cruel war has swept every.
thing from me. and to-day my wife and my
children are beggars. My life is demanded
as an atonement-I am willing to give 10,
and hope after q. while shall be Judged
differently from what am now. If any one
ought to come to their Telief.it is the people
of the South. for whose sake have sacri-