The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1865-11-22
l. A T H N E w 8 +.
ExecutIon OF Captain vylrz.


WASHINGTON, Nov. 10.-Capt. Wirz
was hung between 10 and II clock this
morning. On the gallows be declared
his innocence. He died without exhibit
ing any symptoms of fear. This morn
ing Father Boyle administered the sacra-
mepts to Capt. W, and Father Wiggett
also of the Roman Catholic Church, then
placed upon the prisoner black cam
brio cap, remarking, as he did SO, that he
hoped this will be turned into white
one inzthe other world At 20 minutes
past 10 o'clock Capt. Wirz came from his
cell in Old Capitol Prison, accompanied
by Provost Marshal Russell and other
officers, and by Father Boyle and Wig
guard they assembled the scaffold. The
prisoner was then seated. The scafold
was II feet square and % feet to the top
beam, with drop II feet fall from the
ground. The guard consisted of the 195th
Pennsylvania Volunteers and three de-
tachmsnts Of the Veteran Reserve Corps,
under command Of Capt. Walbridge, mill
itary superintendent of Old Capital Pris-
on. There were several hundred specta-
tors present besides the military civilians
having been admitted on special passes.
Amid profound silence Provost Mar
shall Russell proceeded to read the order
of the, War Department founded on the
verdict Of the court martial which tried
Ithe prisoner. He was charged and con-
victed of combining, confederating and
conspiring with Jefferson Davis, j. A.
Seddon, Howell Cobb, John HI. Winder,
Richard B. Winder, Isaiah White, W. S.
lW:nder, W. Shelby Reed, r. R. Steven
son, s. 81. Moore, - Kerr, late hespi-
tai steward at Andersonville, Jos. Dun
can, Wester w. Turner, BENZ. Harris and
Others, whose names are unknown and
who were then engaged in armed rebel
lion against the United States, malicious
1ly, traitorously and in violation of the
laws of war, to impair and injure the
health and to destroy the lives, by sub
jecting to torture and great suffering, by
conining in unhealthy and unwholesome
quarters, by exposing to the inclemency
of the winter and to the dews and burn
ing sun of summer, by compelling the use
of impure water, and by furnishing in
sufficient and unwholesome food, of a
i large number of Federal prisoners-to
wit: to the number of about 45 000-held
las prisoners of war at Andersonvillc,
within the lines of the so-called Confede-
rate 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 in armed re-
bellion against the United States might
be aided and comforted, etc., etc.
] The order also states that the prisoner
was found guilty of the second charge,
namely, murder, in violation of laws and
customs of war, and guilty of all the
specifications excepting the 4th, 10th and
18th, which three set out that he killed
a prisoner by shooting him with revol-
yer; that he ordered sentinel to fire up
on another with revolver, and that he
shot another with revolver so that he
] died.
/ T he order concludes as follows:
Sentence-And the court do therefore
sentence him, Henry Wirz to be hanged
by the neck until he be dead, at such time
and place as the President of the United
States may direct, two-thirds Of the court
concurring herein And the court also
find the prisoner. Henry Wirz, guilty Of
having caused the death, in the manner
u as alleged in specification 11th, charge
I'd. by means of dogs, of three prisoners
j of war in his custody and soldiers of the
j United States lone occurring on or about
the. 18th of May, 1864; another occurring
on or about the 11th day of July, 1864
another occurring on or about the 1st day
of September, 1864; but which 6nding,a ,as
here expressed, has not and did not enter
: into the sentence of the court as before
Il given.
]. I'd. The proceedings, findings and sen
tence in the foregoing csSe having beer
submitted to the Presidenfo Of the United
States, the following are his orders:
I. EXECUTIVE MANSION, Nov. 3, 1865.
4 The findings and sentence of the cour
in the within case are approved, and it i
ordered that the sentence be carried int,
execution by the officer commanding tn
Department of Washington, on Friday
the 10th day November, 1866, ,betweel
the hours of 6 o'clock in the morning
and IL o'clock noon.
/ lsignedl ANDREW JOHNSON,
4 President of the u. S. :
Sd. Maj. G.. e. Augur, commanding
! Department of Washington. is command
led to cause the foregoing sentence, in th,
case of Henry Wirz, to be duly executed
3 in accordance with the Presidents order
Il 4th. The Military Commission Of which
Maj. Gen. Lewis Wallace, United States
q Volunteers, is President, is hereby dis
solved.
! By command of he President oe tn,
: United States.
Esignedl E.. D. TOWNSEND, 4. A. G
When the reading of the order wa
!. l.lcompleted Wirz conversed with those Of
the platform with seeming. confidence ant
self-possession, and it was remarked tha
he had smiling countenance. To hi
spiritual adviser he said, 81 am innocent
I have to die, but I die like man.
: have hope in the future. / have nothin;
more to say" His legs and hands werl
Itied, the moose passed around his neck
! and the black cap passed over his face. :
5 He stood firm, without faltering, evident
!. by having nerved himself for the soleml
i l.