Evening star., 1865-11-10
THE GUAR ID.


AT a. m. the guard was drawn up about the
gallows, composed as follows: $50 men of the
2l4th Pennsylvania, Major W. M. worrail; 60
men of the 1a5tb Pennsylvania, Capt. T.. III .
Foust; detachmenIs of the 18th, Path, 9th, 12th,
and 18th V. r. C., the whole under the com
mand OF Provost Marshal Russell.
SCENES In THE CELL.
a few minutes past ten o'clock Major Rus
scll, Provost Marshal, and Captain Walbridge
commanding the prison, entered the room of
Wirz, when MAJ. r. informed him thar he must
prepare for the scaffold. He received Major
RusseiI with great ease and urbanity, rising
10 MS 1eet In so doing. He had been up to this
had been with him from eight O'Clock this
morning, and Rev. Father Wiget, who entered
the room short time before. He Immediately
complied with the request TO make ready
and put himself in position for the black gown,
10 be placed upon him; remarking that he
hoped he would ''soon have a white gown"
Before leaving the room he happened to glance
downward, and noticing that his gown had
puckered in the middle, he remarked, coolly.
that he did not know he had grown so fat. A
pair OF handouts were produced to place on
his Wrists, but 1t was found that his right wrist
had swelled to such an extent as to render it
impossible to put them on. and he was allowe
to carry the swollen arm in a sling to the
When all was ready, the solemn procession
started from the room, Maj jor Russell preceding
it. after which came the prisoner, walking
o.
yisers, surrounded by guard.
SCENES ON THE SCAFFOLD.
At minutes past ten a. m, the yard door
of the prison was opened, and the criminal
was ushered forth to the gallows. Major Rus
sell, Provost Marshal, walked in front, fol-
lowed by the prisoner, between Rev. Fathers
Boyle and Wiget, followed by Captain G. X.
"albridge, commanding the prison. WIrz
mounted to the scaffold with quick step,
assisting himself slightly with his left hand.
his right hand being in a sling. He took a seat
on a small stool, in the rear of the drop and
Immediately under the gaping moose in waiting
for him. Father BOYLE stopped over the GRIM
NAL, reciting TO him the Catholic death service.
WIZ was noticed to make the responses with
some emphasis, frequently nodding his head
and also occasionally shaking it. as if answer
ing negatively to some question. He wore a
black gown but no covering upon his head,
ally by the breeze. The walls Of the prison.
the ADJOINING house tops; and the trees
In the street and the Capitol grounds
were loaded with curious spectators,
who INDUCED in variety Of outcrIes
not calculated to inspirit the criminal in his
last moments. In one instance Wirz turned
quickly and with sort of defiant look in the
direction from which some groans and calls of
'Hang the Scoundrel." reached his ears. After
wards he gave cool, comprehensive look to
the whole surroundings of prison yard, spec
tators, fellow prisoners looking out at the win
doWs, Photographic apparatus, gallows, &C.
resting his eye in conclusion on Major Russell
who was reading the findings and sentence of
the Court From the peculiar facial expres-
sion of WirZ, noticeable throughout his trial
he appears to wear n sort Of grim smile in his
most unmirthful moments, and this gave him
on the scaftold the appearance of INDUCING a
SORT of CHASTITY merrment in the nv edge of
the Great Shadow he was entering. Just as the
moose was being adjusted, voice called i'm
patiently from tree, "Down with him; let
him dropw
THE DEATH SENTENCE READ TO
WIRZ.
Major G. Il. Russell, Provost Marshal of the
District Of Columbia, advanced to the front
Of the platform and proceeded to read in a
clear, distinct voice. the findings of the Court
and the death sentence, as follows:
War Department. Adjutdnt Generals OGce,l
Washington, Noe. 6, 1865.
GENERAL COURT MARITAL ORDERS, No. 6D7
l.-Before a Military Commission which
convened at Washington, ID. c., August D.
ls65, pursuant to paragraph 3, Special Orders,
l3, Special Orders, No. 52i, dated October ,,
1865, War Department, Adiutant Generals
Office, Washington, and of which Major Gen
erai @ Lewis Wallace, U. 5. Volunteers, is presi-
dent, was arraigned and tried Henry Wirz:
CHARGE l.-Maliciously, wilfully, and
traltorously, and in aid of the then existing
armed rebellion against the United States of
America, on or before the first day of March,
A ID. 1894, and on divers other days between
that day and the tenth day of April, 1865, COM
bining, confederaung, and conspiring together
ID.
Jos. White, W. s. Winder, r. r. Stevenson,
and others unknown, TO lnjure 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 i'm
pared; In violation of the laws and customs of
war.
CHARGE2.-Murder, in violation of the laws
and customs of war
PIEA--TO w ah a "A tha
uons the accused, Henry Wirz pleaded "Not
Guilty"
F1NDINGIThe Commission having mature
ly considered the evidence adduced, find the
accused, Henry Wirz, as follows:
Of the specification to charge, ssG Guilty," af-
ter amending said specification to read as fol-
lows: In this, that he, the said Henry Wirz
did combine, confederate, and conspire with
them, the said Jefferson Davis, James A. Sed-
Ii. Winder, Isaiah H. White, w. s. Winder. w
Shelby Reed, X. r. Stevenson, S. p. Moore.
= Kerr, late hospital steward at Anderson
vile, James duncan, Wesley w. Turner, Ben
lamin harris, and others, whose names are un-
known, citizens of the United States aforesaid,
ana who We're then engaged in armed rebellion
against the United States. maliciously, traitor
ously, and In violation of the laws Of war, to
impair and injure the health, and to destroy
the lives, by subjecting to torture and great
suffering, by confining in unhealthy and
unWhsiesome quarters, by exposing
10 the inclemency of winter and to the dews
and burning sun of summer, by compelling the
use OF impure water and by furnishing insuf-
hclent and unwholesome food, of large num-
bers OF Federal prisoners, TO wit, the number of
about forty i've thousand soldiers in the mill
tary service of the United States of America
held as prisoners of war at AndersonyiIle i'm
the State OF Georgia. within the lines OF the So
called Confederate States, on or before the 21th
DAY OF March, A. d., 1864, and at divers times
between that day and the 10th day of April A
u, 1865, to the end that the armies of the United
States might be weakened and impaired and
The Insurgents engaged in armed rebellion
against the United States might be aided and
comfortedi and he, the said Henry Wirz an of.
ncer In the military service Of the so-called
Confederate States, being then, and there, com.
mandant OF a military prison at Anderson
vlHe, in the State of Georgia located
by authority of the so.called Confederate
States, for the confinement of prisoners of war,
ana as commandant, fully clothed with
authority and in duty bound to treat, care and
provide for such prisoners held as aforesaid as
Were or might be placed in his custody, accord
ing 10 the law Of war, did, in furtherance of
such combination, confederation and con-
splracy, ,maliciously, wickedly and traitorousIy
eonnhe large number of prisoners of war,
soldiers in the military service OF the United
States, to the number of about forty five thou
sand men, in unhealthy and unwholesome
quarters, in a close and small area of ground