The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-11-09
w / r z
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A Herald Correspondents Interview
with the Prisoner.
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His Life and History from His
Own Lips.
Interesting Narrative Of His Adyen-
lures in Europe and America.
A Water Cure Manager i'm Mas
sachusetts and a Rebel
JailOr in Georgia.
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lnterceSsiOn OF the Condemned Mans Counsel
for Executive Clemeney.
&c. &c. &c.

The approval BY the President of the sentence of the
Military Commission in the wrz case has revived the
interest in everything pertaining to him until it has
again become the absorbing topic the street For
the purpose OF obtaining legitimate information
ing the convict addressed written communication
tho Secretary of War; stating that since Virus conyc
ton of atrocities unparalleled in modern times, every
thing connected with his parenage education and former
pursuits in life of great public interest and
quested permission TO visit him in prison. for the purpose
Of obtaining such information as he chose to commit
nicate for publication in the HERALD, II, in the
opinion Of the Secretary such publication would not be
Incompatible with the ends of public justice. Mr. Stan
ton furnished the necessary passport cheerfully, aud
designated Colonel Chaln, of the War Department,
the officer TO accompany and be present at the inter
view accordingly drove the Old Capitol prison.
Major Russell, Of the Provost Marshal's Department,
prepared Wirz for the visit and subsequently leading
the way TO his room and formally introducing
Wirz is at present confined in room Nc. Q, on the
third floor, and is strongly guarded day and night The
only door OF his room opens into hail. through which
q sentinel PAGES continually. One commits
stoned or non commissioned officers constantly
present, and tho unfortunate Is not
left alone for q single instant The room is about
fifteen feet square, with two strongly barred
dowR looking out norhward on street North. Its fur
nture consists Of army and necessary blankets,
In various stages Of dlapidation, two small
sells and Tin candestick. The room rs warmed by
Crate, which lends cheerful aspect its appearance
Az we entered Wirz and came forward TO
with amiabe and pleased expression Of
nance, entirely at variance with the demo
nacal expression so often attributed TO him
| HIS right carried in a sling, in
consequence Of the breaking out Of old wonnd re-
ceiycd at Fair nsks and extensive exfiaou OF
the bone In whether It vas troublesome or
not he replied, ayes osght he writing some but
cannot do II on account of my There is a
large sore on IT." showing his arm 1T Is from old
wound"
stated that did desire TO be impairment i'm
Fortunate, but il agreeable TO himself would ko have
such information concerning himself as he willing TO
impart. He replied AZ follows, rsrbo,tm:-
VIRUS HISTORY.
have no secrets Of my past lire Of my present
am u native Of Switzerland Ny name is Henry wir7
Ny father tailor In 1894 he gave M and was in
the Custom House the last heard from him, and per
baps Is yet have not heard from him lately He is
eigh'y-three years old Ny mother died in Is43
have brother AM had ter she died unmarried
in 1890 My brother Is blind was born On The ?5th
OF November, 1923 There wears between
my sister and myself and seven between her ana
my brother nv father wanted 20 study
for tho pulpit did not like h. I lad In.
clnatcn TO study medicine, cnd he would not
LEI me; finally he compromised with me, and put
in commercial house staid IN q large ing house
two years, Ia Zurich then went TO Italy. Ny people
used 70 be Catholics believe. | travelled Al oyor
Italy could not cay TINT s'ad anywhere; wanted
10 travel came 10 New York in ls49 aud tried TO "a
in situation physician; but as could not speak
English soon saw could not do that, then won't 10
Connecticut. did 10 make anything II could
only got along. ! sta'd In Connecticut some six
months then went TO Lawrence, vses and worked
for short time as a at OF the iooma had
then learned English enough 10 along and
engaged ~ interpreter IN factory three miles from
Northampton, where Germans employed was III.
forwards engaged superintendent OF water cure
establishment Ia Northampton Mass That was in 1850
and 1861. bad then An oiier made by gentleman
living twenty miles from Hopknsyille Ky-one Dr
webber stayed with him two months till I was
convinced he a humbug; helcoud not pay me my
wages. While here had got acquainted with some
ladies and gentlemen who had been there got treated
aud there married my present wife, Elizabeth savs
in 1864, a, Cadiz, Kentucky. stayed there six
months; il did not suit me the place was too small
went to live In Louisville, and Ia with DR. caspar
and stayed with him through The summer OF 1855
was superintendent Of his water cure establishment,
situated Second street, between Walnut and Chest
nut Then got acquainted with Mrs I. r. Marshall 81
!
went there. Mr. Marshall made an engagement with me
20 take charge OF of his plantations aud continued
ia this situation TIL the commenced. arst went
there by myself he gave three hundred dollars
annum, and had horse whenever ! wanted one; was
Of expense whatever took my family there IN
! 1861 went from there to MiIliken's Bend The plan
taton which Marshall lived was about three miles
from Millkcn's Bend
uE ESTrRs TUE REBEL ARMY
When enlisted went In private. The name of
the company 20 which belonged was the Madison In.
fantry Captain waddell commanded y when II went
out l stayed with that company VII August, 1851
Then we had guard duty 70 do ut the military prison in
Richmond; IL not Libby nor Belle Isle, but
Towards factory One day the officer OF tho guard,
Lieutenant Tod a brother in law 10 Abraham Lincoln
was relieved by General Winder for deposng two dead
bodies right by windcrs house. After the prisoners
were brought from the FIRST Bull Run we had no list
OF them so | went 70 making out ono. General windor
came along md asked what was at told him and
he says ''Tba IL Just what we WANT Two days after
that got order from the War Department ordering
detached service Captain Gibbs, who was here
on my trial. was then IN command OF the prison An
dersonvilc stayed TIL December 1851. ! was then
ordered TO prepare three hundred and twenty prisoners
for Tuscaloosa, Ala ] had no rank then; was only
sergeant wrote 10 Richmond two or three times 70
send an officer and finally General Forney, Of Mobile
sent an order for the prison be broken up Il was in
May iso2 had orders 10 deliver the prisoners to the
Governor Of Alabama at Montgomery. then or
dored to Richmond.
~ PROMOTED.
had talk with General winder and told him had
served about long could private, so after
wards was sent Out nj tho battle Of Fair Oaks 10 eel ~