Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-04-03
MAJOR HENRY WIRz.
MS TRIAL AND exscuTIoN-AN M
PoRrANT HISTORICAL PAGE.
A Gap Supplied by ifowison's ssuasau'
History Of the United stases-A 0."
net Onicer's Infamous Proposition
written for the DIspatsh.l

II IL somewhat remarkable that, al
though several Histories Of the uniteo
States.n such as those Of A. II. stephens
Eeeleston, Barnes 4 Co., Derry, Holiness
and vsnable. bring their histories down
through the presidencies OF Lincoin'
johnson. and Grant, they never mention
the name or the fate OF Major Henry
Wirz. Ample historic material ior TINS
was in existence. and his trial and execu-
ton with the attendant facts cons'i.u,.yh .
very impressive and sad passage IN .ne
life of this country. But this zap mas
been supplled in the Students history
of tbe limited States" by Hovison. wnica
has lust been published. On pages 90
and s35 the narrative appears. After u Ic-
viav Of the treatment OF prisoners OF wai
and y,ndication of the humanity OF tne
South on this subject, we have tne ioi-
lowing: =, a., hoar
"But the people of the North had oee zen
wrought up to artificial cxcitemene III"
passion on this subject by many aY eIho'sea
chiefly the sensational reports ana pnoto-
craphs of so-called sanitary cgmmittees.
They clamored for victim, and after tne
surrenders of the southern armies one "as
for,nd He was Major Henry Wirz. OF
Swiss descent. who had been tine COM
mandant of the prison camp at Anoefson-
vile, Ga.
NOT INTRODUCED.
"After the assassination OF Lincoln Malcr
Wirz was brought to trial before court
martial in Washington city. Inc 'riai
lasted three months. More than 10y wiz
nesses were introduced before the military
commission: but there was one WINE
who was not introduced. This was Colonei
ID O,,l1 ho
of exchange. He was O material witness
for Wirz and by request of the accused was
regularly summoned to appear and tesuily.
He attended accordingly. HIS testimony.
il heard and weighed. would have ceeh
very important to the accused; buS WIN
out request or consent OF WIZ or Ms
counsel, the Judge Advocate reyokeo the
subpoena by which Colonel Ould had oeeh
summoned, and dismissed him from NJ
tendance. reference. Colonel Ould's
statement. Southern Historical Papers L.
212-2i3.) Thus the prosecuting powers de-
liberately suppressed material testimony
for man tried for his life. No valid pre-
cedent for this can be found.
1.-The Federal prosecutors stroye earnest
ly in this trial 10 find some evidence which
would involve President DAVIS IN charge
of completely in the cruelties SAID 10 nave
been perpetrated at Andersonviile. out III
VAN. MOI " tuduOW VI ouHP'N' w.
shown against him.
RATHER DIE THAN BIZ TRAITOR.
"W;rz was condemned to die. On the
night before his execution. persons whose
names bave not been diyulged came to MS
confessor, Rev. Father BOYLE, and to ms
counsel, Mr.. Schade. and informed eacn
of them that high Cabinet officer wished
to assure Wirz that his sentence would De
committed il he would implicate Jefferson
Davis. The next morning Father Boyle
and Mr.. Schade saw Wirz, and be was told
of this communication. lie simply and
quietly replied: Mr.. Schade, you
know that have always told you that L
do not know anything about Jefferson
Davis. He had no connection with me as
10 what was done at Andersonville. l
would not become traitor against him or
ANYBODY else, even to save my llfe.'-
Hon. BENJAMIN Hills Statement, South
ern Historical PAPERS, l., 2l9. DR.. Winder's
Paper, 900. 22l.)
Wirz met his fate. All the known facts
iustify the belief that his execution was q
murder committed under the forms OF a
military trial in period of great excite
mont. and as an offering TO appease IN
tense and morbid popular feeling. Such
cases have not been unknown In history.
That of the British Admiral Byng, though
entirely unlike in the charge and the
facts. was similar in the spirit prompting
it, but in Admiral Byng's case no witness
important 10 the defence was dismissed
by the prosecution without being heard"