The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-10-16
WIRZ OF ANDERS0NVILLE.
A Startling Chapter of the Secret
History Of His Trial
A Minister'S Story of the Case-Did Stanton
Deceive Wirz and the Cabinet-What
Andrew johnson Said.
Louisville Commercial.

for the lnnumanltleS practlced at Anuersoh-
Vile prison, which amounts to unpublished
secret history
During the rebellion Father Hamilton
had charge of congregation at Macon, Ga,
seventy-nine miles from Andersonville.
When the reports became prevalent that the
Union prisoners were dying in large num-
bers at the stockade, it was decided by the
bishop of the diocese that more good could
be accomplished by the priests visiting the
prison and ministoring to the dying soldiers
than could be done by combining their relig-
ious work to their respective congregations
Accordingly, father Hamilton and three
other priests were detailed to take charge
of the work. They went from Macon to
Andersonville every Monday morning and
returned the following Friday night Father
Hamilton threw his whole soul into the
labor, and although Confederate himself,
by reason Of his long residence in the South,
he became great favorte with the prison
ers. They loved and fairly adored him ON
account of his humanity and his untiring
efforts in their behalf. Father Hamil-
ton and Henry Wirz, the keeper
of the prison, became great friends While
tits the worlds belief that Wirz was a mon
ster of cruelty, as many prisoners have per-
sonally testified, Father Hamilton gives diff
fcrent account, and his estimate of Wirz is
given as he made it. They worked together
continually, father Hamilton says with one
object in view, viz that the prisoners should
be treated as humanely as circumstances
would admit. He said that Captain Wirz
was the most humane keeper of prison
that he had ever met, and he related instances
of the Captains humanity; how he had COM
mtted acts OF charity which, when discov
cred by his superlors came very near caus-
ing his being "sent to the front" Still, at
the close Of the war; Wirz was hanged by the
United States authorities for the crueltes in
tiicted upon the prisoners at Andersonville,
and it was in connection with the Captains
trial and condemnation to death that the
startling disclosure was made by Father
Hamilton, who was witness in behalf of
Wirz at that celebrated trial, which lasted
eight weeks.
at is true" said Father Hamilton, ''that
the suffering among the prisoners at Ander-
sonville was terrible. About SO 900 of them
were huddled together in a space of eight
acres, and they were without shelter of any
kind for eleven months, being exposed to all
sorts of weather and the terrible heat of the
sun. ! always blamed and condemned the
confederate government for not providing a
shelter for the men. Captain Wirz, as l said
before, was an exceedingly humane man, and
when the responsibility of the crueties prac-
ticed at Andersonvile were laid at his door
went on to Washington to do what could
in his behalf, for knew that the poor fellow
was no more accountable for the sufferings of
the prisoners than 1 was. l testified in his
behalf, but it was of no avail, for the trial
was farce and the man most cruelty mis-
represented. The North was terribly aroused
at the time over the alleged atrocities, and
the blood of some one was demanded. Dur
ing the trial Captain Wirz was suffering from
various diseases and wounds, and he was
carried to and from the courtroom by four
marines. medical commission had been
appointed to examine Wirz, and this exam
ination resulted in the conclusion that he
could not possibly live longer than two
months at the farthest. This information |
obtained through friend and 1 felt it my
duty to impart it to Wirz that he might pre-
pare himself for the next world. This was
about two weeks before the end of his trial
He received the information calmly and
then made request of me which shall
never forget.
THE PROPOSITION TO STANTON.
"He said he realized that his conviction
and condemnation to death was foregone
conclusion, and that he had no reason to
think otherwise. l agreed with him that on
account of the feeling existing in the North
he would certainly be condemned to death.
He then requested me to call upon Secretary
Stanton and say that he was willing to plead
guilty to the charges against him, provided
that in fixing the punishment the commits
sion would set date for his execution far
enough in the future to afford him an OPP
portunity for preparing himself for DEATH
and of his probably dying a natural death
before the day fixed for the exc cution. In
compliance with his request, called upon
Secretary Stanton and laid Virus
proposition before him, and made
personal request myself that
it be accepted. Mr.. Stanton thought favora-
bly, of it, and said he thought that the rest
of the cabinet would have no hesitancy in
apfin To hot bo
cabinet council that day at l O'clock and
that he would lay the matter before the
cabinet and would inform me later in the
day what action had been taken in the
premises, After the meeting l called upon
him, when he informed me that the rest of
the cabinet officers had refused to listen to
any such proposition as that made by Wirz.
] asked him what reasons they gave, and he
made me this reply. l will never forget it:
THE people of the North demand the blood
of some one for the cruelties practiced at
Andersonville. Wirz has only two months
to live. Let's take this man and shed his
blood, and by doing so we spare the life of
better man. and then he mentioned the
names of three men-Lee, Davis and Ste
phens OF Georgia.
81 saw that there was nothing more to be
DONE and l communicated this fact to Wirz
who began preparing himself to meet his
Maker In the course of the next two weeks
Wirz was found guilty, and the next morn
rug, alter peing conueniheu, he was eAeculeu:
Subsequently l met President Johnson, and
during our conversation l alluded to the
proposition made by Wirz, and asked him
why the cabinet had not favored it as Secre-
tary Stanton had.
II never was more surprised in my life
than was at the reply which the President
gave me. Stanton in favor of the PROPOSE
tionT said he apparently greatly astonished.
why, Stanton was the only member in the
cabinet opposed to it, The rest of the cabi
net favored it and were about to accept it,
when Stanton Threatened to resign if the