Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-09-29
The Wirtx Trial.

| WASHINGTON, Sept. 2S.-The Writ Mill
tary Commission reassembled to-day,
The examination Of Col. Persons was re-
sumed. While he commanded at Ander-
sonville boxes OF supplies fromthe Sanitary
Commission reached there. r He had them
sent In to the prisoners, for which they
thanked him. Witness never knew of Capt!
Wirtz being absent with the dogs. J1tSwas
penitentiary offense for Confederates to
trade for -greenbacks. He thought this was
| so declared by act of Congress and by O
statute of the State of Georgia. The coun-
| try around Andersonville waspoor, and rs q
consequence vegetables were scarce. Soon
after some negroes had reached Anderson
yille,- he addressed a aeommunicationtoG Gen.
| Winder asking what disposition should be
made of them. The reply was that the
question was In abeyance at Richmond, and
u til 1t was settled that they should 1be
treated as prisoners of war. Witness did
not know whether sentries were relieved
after shooting Union prisoners. Such in
formation never reached him. aiuotr.,io
Is' yCross-examined by Judge Advocate
Chipman: Witness was first assigned to
the command of troops, and next to the
post. A great effort was made to build ac-
Communications for the prisoners. Captain
Wirtz assumed the responsibility of erect
ing a dead house. Y. p..I r1r,HUI
Judge .Advocate-Would it not have
been more humane to build shelter for the
Witness-I think it was impracticable for
Capt. ,Wirtz to furnish all the shelter re-
quired. H1 nE. eH ,ts HwFaa 81
Judge Advocate-You do not answer my
question. ngiT "'-' ll'' "a ~
Witness Then I answer yes. Some
shelter might have been built. think the
quartermaster had not sufficient energy.
never exercised the right to punish prison
ers. Capt. Wirtz never received any order
| for that, purpose. The latter was RESPONSE
BILE TOR what he did there. Capt. Wirtz
labored indefatigably. Whether or not he
accomplished all he desired, / do not know,
but do know that the prison was not halt
cared for. / think the responsibility rested
on those who crowded so many prisoners
there. 5l,. ,r, .r0 .yH HT-. W O.
By the. Court: Captain Writ drew up
the prison rules by his own authority
Witness approved of them because he
thought they were right. There was,no
dead line therein provided for; it was sub
sequently erected by virtue, hesupposed, of
Capt. Wirtz's own rank.
Nazareth Allen, OF, the.,3d Georgia Re-
serves, who had been examined for the
prosecution, was now called for the de-
Tense. There was a good deal of sickness
in his regiment, and owing to the heavy
duty required much dissatisfaction existed
among the men, and some of them strayed
away. The effect of the bad rations was
diarrhea and other diseases among the
troops. He saw some of his men wearing
old clothing which they had purchased
from the Union prisoners. When Gen.
Stoneman's raiders were brought TO -Ander-
sonville they were searched and jewelry,
paper money, ladies' shaWls, pocket books,
gold table spoons and silver spoons and
forks, and daguerreotypes,i ,iwere taken from
them. Witness never heard that furloughs
could be obtained by shooting Union pris-
| oners.
Cross-examined by Judge Advocate
Witness knew of no soldier dying from
starvation or emaciation because of insuf-
ficient food. ........-
Question-was the clothing which yol
saw ON the rebel soldiers taken from 5tieat
bodies of Union soldiers? Answer d.
not know, but believe r,I 4.
Mr.. Baker-Tell us all about it.
,.o The Judge Advocate objected, saying the
witness had answered the question. Moth.
ing further of Importance was elected, ant
the Court adjourned.