Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1892-05-05
Wirz of Andersonville.

| Wirz Of AndersOnville.
The following remarkable article is
going the rounds of the press OF the
country, and is give here simply to
show to what degree many ofthe pres.
ent citizens OF the south will resort to
palate the atrocities OF the most de.
graded in the rebel ranks.
it is somewhat remarkable that,
although several "Histories of the
United States" snch as those of A. g.
Stephens, Eggletson, Barnes & Co.,
Derry, Homes and Venable bring their
histories down through the presi.
denotes of Lincoln, Johnson and Grant,
they never mention the name or the
fate OF Maj. Henry Wirz. Ample
historical! material for this was in ex.
lstence, says the Richmond Dispatch.
and his trial and execution with the
attendant facts constitute very i'm.
pressiye and sad passage in the lie OF
this country. But this gap has been
supplied in the "students' History of
the United States, by Howlson," which
has Just been published. On pages
e55 and S36 the narrative appears.
Alter review of the treatment OF
prisoners OF war and vindlcation OF
the humanity of the south on this
subject we have the following:
But tne people OF the North had
been wrought up to artificial excite.
nent and passion on this subject by
many agencies, chiefly the sensational
reports and photographs OF so called
sanitary committees. They cIamored
Tor victim, and after the surrenders
OF the Southern armies one was found.
He was Mai Henry Wlrz, of Swiss de.
scent, who had been the commandment
OF the prison camp at Andersonville,
ga. after the assassination OF Lin.
coin, Maj. Wirz was brought to trial
before court-martial in Washington
City. The trial lasted three months.
More than 100 witnesses were intro.
duced before the military commission;
but there WAS one witness who was
not introduced. This was Col. Rob.
ert Ould, the Souther commissioner
OF exchange. He was q material wit.
ness for Wrz, and by request OF the
accused was regularly summon
ed TO appear and testify. He at.
tended accordingly. His testimony, il
heard and weighed, would have been
very important to the accused; hut
without request or consent of Wlrz or
his counsel, the Judge advocate revok-
ed the subpmA by which Col. Guild had
been summoned, and dismissed him
from attendance. reference. Col.
Ould's statement, Southern Historical
Papers, l., 2l2.2l3 Thus the prose-
cutting powers deliberately suppressed
material testimony for q man tried
tor life. No valid precedent for
this can be found. The federal prose.
cutors strove earnestly in this trial to
find some evidence which would in.
volve President Davis in charge OF
completely in the cruelties said to
have been perpetrated at Anderson
vile, but in vain. Not a shadow OF
suspicion was shown against him.
Wirz was condemned to die. On the
night before his execution, persons
whose names have not been divuIged
came to his contessor, Rev. Father
Boyle, and his counsel. M. Schade,
and informed each of them that a
high cabinet officer wished to assure
Wlrz that his sentence would be com.
muted if be would implicate Jefferson
Davis. The next morning Father
Boyle and Mr.. Schade saw Wirz, and
be was told OF this communication
He simply and quietly replied. "Mr.
Schade you know that l have always
told you that do not know anything
about Jefferson DAVIS. He had no
connection with me as to what was
done at Andersonvile. I would not
become a traitor against him or any
body else, even to save my life"
Zion. BENJAMIN HIPS Statement,
Southern Historical Paper's, l., 2l9,
DR.. Winder's Paper, 22O, 22D.
"Thus. with truth and tirmness,
Henry Wlrz met his fate.