New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-09-22
SENTIMENTS OF HOWELL COBB
III. Tender Care for the Prisoners
Humanity of Hog" Winder'
MORE CRUEL MURDERS.
WASHINGTON, Thursday, Sept. 81, 1865.


IT.. o,,;donce for the United States in the
ma, ,-,o, ia e,nected TO close tomorrow Saturday
The Government has shown proper disposition 10 az
"a .he ,r;soner fair opportunity for his defense
having ,hus far subpenaed about 20 witnesses, 80 oil
whom have already arrived in Washington. This,
however is not all that the prisoner, through his
oounsel fesires lie wants witnesses sought after and
brought to this city but this it appears, cannot be
done for the want Of money only about goo in all hay
ing been subscribed to assist him.
Several witnesses deemed important have left here
not hazng means at hand to pay their ordinary ex'
penses Under these circumstances both the prisoner
and his counsel seem despOndeat while they attach no
blame to the prosecution To-day one Of the witnesses
who was recalled BY the Government testified TO acts Of
cruelty committed by James Duncan, part of whose
business was to distribute bread among the prisoners
Mr. Baker objected to the statement unless it was
shown that Duncan was coupled with the erueties
charged against the prisoner at the bar The Court
Informed the counsellor that the Commission was try
ing a conspiracy. The witness then testified that
Duncan kicked and beat who stopped 10 pick up
piece Of bread and that the victim OF the unmerefl
treatment died several days afterwad; and also that
the same Duncan similarly served poor, hafwitted
fellow when be came with his wagon on another DC
casion TO give out bread.
Tho witness was asked to point ont Duncan in the
courtroom which he did. A short time after these
proceedings guard approached Duncan and informed
him that he was now under arrest by order Of the
Cont. This subpenaed as q witness for the
defense and has appeared in the court or several days
past.
The Wirz Military Commission reassembled
To-day.
~ Walker testified other things that
cen. Howell Co.'s oame 70 AndcIsonve on the 18th Of
Nareh and tic parOed prisoners outside were notified
down; good many Of US went down, myself among
others. found Gen. Cobb in the midst OF the crowd
The ID Georgia Regiment. think, was down at The
shed that was bens.built f. brickyard; lie made
,,,. IN Wien he referred to the prisoners ne sea
he was sorry any prisoners had gee. sap'uied ana ne
should hang every prisoner he had his own way he
further said: If tie prisoners come up TO
your house to take your chicken or yonr pig,
hang them; if a prisoner comes up to your
house 10 speak 10 women, hang him.. lie then re-
ferred 10 President Lincoln and said, - President
Lincoln ever gets me he will hang me- and il ever get
President Lincoln viii hang hi'o. In referring TO
the conduct Of Capt VIM he said that he was glad TO
find the state Of things around Andefs0nNlue snch as
thew were He recommended Capt WIZ as being
very merOrious and efficient officer, dong bis duty
and doing il well. He said to the Confederate troops
around bin Look over into that stockade," pointing
his finger directly 10 III "go look over there and con
pare yourselves with those men, and 90 home and hiss
your wives and weethearts and see II you cannot gam
INDEPENDENCE" lie further Sild, IN connection
with the grave yard and the treatment he would give
TO the prisoners Il would treat Tie prisoners well
would feed them well would care for them.' HIS
voice when he said no would care for them, assumed
sentorian He spoke harshy, and as if with deep
meaning pointing at the time with his hand 10
the grave yard meaning that that would be the care
he wonld give them The speech was received with
some hurTahiDg, but not enthusiastically as have
seen speeches received in other places.
Ambrose S.eHcer residing nine miles from Ander-
sonvle testified that he visited the prison every
and had annie agPcTfnluug
condition. which was as wretehed and degrading az
the mind could well conceive. The odOr from tie
stockade could be detected distance Of two miles The
section of the country was well supplied with mills
both for grain and lumber 1t probably the most
densely wooded section Of any in the United States
As to fertility he believed South Western Georgia
was regarded as tie gardenspOt OF the Coniederacy
from which immense quantities Of supplies drawn
for the army. There was an uncommon large
,nnnly of vegetables in the Summer Of ls6j
some Of which were taken from Americas 10
Andersonvile, for the use OF Confederate officers;
the witness had knowledge OF the ladies IN TIE neigh
borhood gathering clothing and food for the relief OF the
prsoners; Gen. Winder, In the presence OF himself
wife and several other ladies' said with an oath that
he believed the whole country was becoming Yankee,
and he would be damned il he wouldn't put stop 10 III
n not one way, he would another. The witness re-
piled that the exhibition OF humanity wRs Pot evidence
Of the fact of that assertions Winder ad II was sur
on the Confederate Government and covert attack
upon himself; the witness informed MN that inc Sup
plies were forwarded az the request Of the Rev. Mr..
Davies when Gen. Winder replied that's dannedle;
as for himself he would MS soon the damned Yankees
should die there as anywhere else he believed it would
be better; Gen. Wndel's language On that ocoa'
sion was utterly unfit 10 be repeated in
the prerence Of ladies'; but the meaning was
that he could very easily make loyal women Of them by
putting them in certain condition; in d subsequent
conversation with X. H. Winder Lieut. Reed and Capt.
Wirz Reed observed that If Gen. WindeT had done as
be wanted him 20 DO lie Reed) would have made good
"spec' out Of the clothing and supplies; Capt Wirz
sad If be had his way he would have house built for
certain infamous purposes, in which he would place
these beney olent women; r. b. Winder concurred in
this remark by aughing al the laying out Of the prison
w ). Winder was there experimenting; the witness
asked him II he was not going to erect sheds and shelter
and why be was cutting down the trees; 10 which he
more damned Yankees than be destroyed at the
'front.'" Gen. j. IL. Windcr always sworc when the
name Of Andersonville was named the witness de-
scribed him as bereft Of feelings of hunaEtyin fact
brutal man.
DR.. j. b Head. who was ON duty as Surgeon at An.
Jacksonville in July and August s64 testified in rela
ton to affairs al The hospital including the suGerngs
Oh the prisoners from disease and from the want Of
proper diet, shelter and medicines; men would often
Ole Tor the want Of timulants when lie visited his home
Mt Americas he mentioned his wife the suerings Of
the prisoners and she went around the and gath
ered considerable supplies, which forwarded 10
AhucrsohNlHei Ten. Wnder expressed himself as glad
that such things had been sent; this cleared The yay
ior second contribution, which was larger than the
hrst the thd time his wife went about The country and
seIeo piV' sios ana clothing, and some OF the ladies
seot up Win then 10 AndeIsOnyie; Lieut. Reed sg ore
that the goods should not 20 into the prison some said
that be (Head should be shot and others that he bond
DC hanged for his agency In procuring these gunnlie
The witness then called Gen. WiRder and irS,,rrci
MIN that was IN accordance with bis permission thar
supplies had been carried into the ftockade Con in
oef got out OF his chair, turned rouud and aid. ~ do
not know how in he'll and damnaiOn there are so many
fympathzeis for the damned Yankees. TO this ujtne
Iephed this Is only mission Of charity ard mcrcv
~heh zen. Winder exeiniined: Every damned yam.
80 ~ Lo!upathZeI ana every damned Yankee ought 10