New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-08-30

ton rom tine prisoner, WHICH Feiu az tOnOWb.
OLD CAPITOL PRISON,
WASHINGTON CRY, d. c.. August %. 1865.
Col y. p. Orphan Judge Adroeofe, Mhtdry CoSnm"oni
respectfully ask the Commission as am here alone to
send for my counsel M-s,rs Schade and Baker under
stand that my most eIent enreaes they nave eosehed
Hoping that the Commission will grant my request, sign
myself, most respectfully your obedient servant
II. WIRE, late Captain and A. A. IT,, T. :. a.
Major-Gen. Wallace said if there was no objection,
the gentlemen would be sent for.
No objection being made. and the Commission being
disposed to afford every proper means for defense
an orderly was dispatched for Messrs. Baker and
Schade
The Court was then cleared for about threequarters
of an hon and when the doors were opened the record
Of Yesterday was read
Messrs Baker and Schade again appeared in Court
counsel for Wirz The room was more crowded
than heretofore with spectators many women being in
the crowd.
DR. j. g. Roy was called, and being examined by
Advocate iIosmer testified that he
was on duty ~ Abdersonvie; he was under the i'm
mediate charge of Dr. Stevenson the hospital was In
deporablc condition there not being sufficient sup
py of tents and hunks: there were no coDorts he was
told that there were between GOO and 3Op prisoners
there; he did not ind mnch difficulty in obtaining med
cines excepting few Of the rarer articles the men
presented the most horrible specimens OF humanity ne
ever saw; large number OF them were affected with
the worst forms OF scuryy; he attributed
the sickness TO long confinement, exposure
aud absence of the comforts OF life;
there were maggots in the swamp near the hospital
the malaria from which had most fatal effect upon the
patients; the insects white ants with wings. were
such as result from decaycd animal and vegetable
for n man to open his mouth at shutdown The witness
heard that there was dead.line and one OF his pa
tents was killed; but he did not see him shot He
stated the circumstances under which the prisoners
were when WIZ had command Of them and while he
was in the administration of his duties surgeon;
all tie surgeons came to the conclusion that Capt.
Wiaz had iGll authority over the PRISON nnder Gen
Winior; he had seen the chef.clerk Of DR..
James buckcd. and, induiring the reason was
informed that the punishment was inflicted by order OF
Capt. WIZ.
about which he had testified and with which delcaces
for the sick were purchased in existence when be
went TO Andersonvillc during the month OF February
March last 5000 in Confederate money was drawn
from the fund No that time one-dollnr greenback
would purchase $50 of Confederate money the witness
was az 4 ndcrsonylc six months and the buckng was
the only instance OF cruelty he had seem the medical
condition II the hospital better after Dr. Clayton
came there Capt. Wirz exercised no more influence
over the former physicians than he did over Dr. Clay
ton.
At / O'Clock the Court took recess until O'clock
On reassembny. DIR. b. A. Eanderkieft testified
that he was on duty At Annapolis from MAY 20 1903 to
May % l,6j he attended 10 than 900 Of the
turned prisoners from Andersonvillo they were suf
ferng from chronic diarrhea. scuryey and other dis
eases; some were in dying condition. and others had
to be treated in the hospital before they acquired
strength enough 10 return home; the disease from
which death ensued more than from any other was
chronic darrhea this resulted from .nsuhcient and
improper food and exposure; very little attention was
paid 10 their condition at Andersonyille. He was
shown the photograph Of living skeleton and said he
had many of the returning prisoners in similar
condition. 49,
Cross.examined by Mr.. Baker-Ife knew officially
that the men were from Andersonyille had seen men
reduced TO the condition represented in the photographs
witness was regularly educated IN Germany as
Martin T. Hogan testified as to his having been
prisoner AT Andcrsonville; the men there were III
miserable cOnditiOn-as bad possibly could be- the
men were so thick that they could hardly elbow their
way lay in their own filth, calling for water and
CRYING for food. but no attention was paid them;
he also testified to the miserable quality OF
baked corn bread which sour, and the soup when
il was furnished. of an inferior quality men al
icted with the scuryy would me ground the
sight was horrible; very many were nsuilcently clad
and having no shelter hurrowed in the ground; to
hounds he brought back prison by their agency
he had Capt Wir1 with hounds. trying TO strike
the track of an escaped prisoners Tor attempting 10
escape from prison about the 9Th OF October 1864 after
the most obscene abuse from Capt Wirz he was fast
ened by the neck aud feet and remained there for %
hours: he heard Capt Wz give orders that lie should
not have food but he did get food from some paroled
comrades who stole it for him. he had seen three COM
rades put in the stocks a the same timc one man was
put in the stocks because he asserted MS manhood
by resentng the abuse OF Confederate soldier; when
the prisoners were being removed from Andersonyile
10 Millcn the witness saw Capt WIZ take man by /
the collar because ne could mol Walk lhsltT,
was so worn by disease he could not throwing the man
an his back he stamped upon him with his feet he saw
the man bleeding. and he died short time after; IN
the issecting he saw students IN the pursuit OF
KNOWLEDGE saving open the skulls OF deceased prison.
ers and opening the bodies.
Cross. examined by Mr. Baker-Whcn he escaped, he
took with hin knife 10 protect himself nom harm II
renassorv. il WAS Confederate surgeons knife. which
be had taken without leave: his companions who at
tempted 10 escape provided with revolyers hve
loads were fired at the party who hrst pursued and
who were sending the dogs after them; he was put In
stocks from personal revenge because lie tried To es
oa"o che pauers he signed before he attempted his !
escape lie aid consider parole of honor he did not
know what he was signing. /
Q. DO you believe that you could have passed ont ol
the prson without signing that papert A. II L had
stoned parole Of honor should have respected II.
Srhc cross examination was further continued.
J. ID Kieser testified that he in the United
States service captured anu sent 10 Andersonvlie he
arrived there with the first party of 400 men; there
sufficient accommodation then, but others were
aided affairs became bad, and the men began to be
oficted with diirrhea, dysentery scufyy and gan.
grene they lay on the ground and were not protected
from the weather. in April or May 1864. supplies were
received from the North; some moldy bread or cake
was thrown over the dead line; man reached be.
vond the line for piece OF this mody bread or cake
when the guard fred and shot the man through the |
head: he saw another after he had been shot In
the abdomen; he had IN the chain gang with
iron collars round their necks; Of them thus
punished for attempting 70 make their escapei the
prisoner was proiane and oycrbearing toward
our men on the slightest prOvOcatiOn; he had seen men
bucked by order OF Capt. Wrz the witness had seen
Gen. Wnder ut the prison number OF our prisoners
rushed up 10 see him. when he told our men 10 sunu
back and gave orders to the guard to hIe on tnou
approached the gate nearer than 10 ieeti the "neS
ne for long time cross examined by the deensei ne
had never seen Capt. Wirz commit an assam. w unS
individual prisoner but he had heard lne sNc
orders to the guard one III Them to conc plisDhcr
in the stock for attempting escape WIZ called him
- 4 .on aanno f n 81