The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1906-09-07


wounded In q battle, so az to bar him
from active field service. He wss
assigned and detailed for duty sa
prison.
After the surrender he was charged
by the federal authorities with various
crimes at the prison. He was taken
to Washington city, and there held
to trial by q military court, which
condemned him to be hung and he was
executed on tho 10th of November,
1896.
The military court which tried and
condemned Confederate Captain
Henry Wirz was presided oyer by
General Lewis Wallace, who sub
s%equently became the famous author
Of the book known rs ben Hut"
which has been published In numer-
GUS editions and read by thousands Of
our people.
The work was also drsmatized aud
presented on theatrical stages to the
interest Of many thousands Of people
and vast ASSEM- bltes of spectators. I
wonder IL any OF them ever thought
Of the author of Ben Hur" as tho
same man and oflser who ruled In the
military court that tried and con
demned Confederate Captain Henry
Wirz.
The circumstances OF the Oonfeder-
ate government rendered it praoti
oslly impossible 10 give the prisoners
all OF their neooSsi 6ies. Captain Wirz
was condemned and hung as q crue!
felon. His cruel judge lived on and
became famous. Does It not really
seem like the irony of fats?
The Uaited States was in better
condition and with more favorable
circumstances for the proper care OF
prisoners, yet they allowed our Con-
federate soldiers to 81 If n severely,
many Of them being put to death
Without cause or reason.
Many Of them died from starvation
and freezing, as occurred at E!mira,
N. Y, Fort Delaware, Del, and at
Sandusky Gohnson's Island), OHIO.
At Sandusky and Chicago are
large cemeteries Of our men who died
In these prisons. Brave patriots OF
the southland, they were true to the
last, and they now rest In those
cemeteries In view Of those who op,
posed their cause, as though they are
to be silent sentiEels on guard forever
for southern manhood and courage,
fidelity and fortitude, honor anc
herOism.
Indeed, IL seems appropriate anG
timely that the United States shoult
Adopt the suggestion Of the lamented
President Mckinley, that the fedora
government should share with us If
the care Of Confederate soldiers
gro YES" Hs said: Re very soldiers
grave made during our unfortunate
civil war Is a tribute to America,
valor."
1t Is simply D. tale Of horrors t.
read now the tmSial reports OF tin,
lives tf Confederate soldiers in prison
A significant fact with regard TO To
RECORDS, that in the reports of tn,
Supersotfndents OF prisons under tn,
headings OF 'con6uct" almost invari
ably show good and very good. >
Let US Contrast these reports OF uni
form good conduct OF Confederate,
IN poison with the severity of til,
J manner IN which they were treste(
oy tb ir cruel guards. For man who's,
behavior vas good" to be treated a.,
! tbey were was simply Wanton cruelt,
Without cause.
The q uth hsd p double duty im
poSan upon IT., In the case II prisoner
IN their prisons and 1t also contributes
to tn comfort Of Confederate soldier
In northern prisons.
I. The Confederate government sen
large quantities Of cotton, 10 tn,
! north to be sold and The & eco, s,
4 be applied for the purchase o AupblicI
5 Tor the Contedera ties IN prlson.?,
Confederate General Wil!iamlNsR
Beall was In q Yankee prison. III.
' was released on parole Of hone. an,
vas designated for the purpose
receiving aud selling the cotton an,
G buying supplies, and dlstributin,
, them amongst the prisoners at vari
GUS prisons.
Eight hundred aod thirty bs,es q
cotton sent to New York, sfser bs,n
: properly prepatcd FIR market, sold a
public suction February 8.h, 1865, q
an average pr'cs Cf so cents DE
y pound, retted 1891, 780 66, which sur
: was used FIR the purpose of hu Ia
supplies for our prisoners In norther
=. prisons.
. On August 8, 1864. General U. S
y q Int sent q telt to General But
Z Ter as follows:
o. the subject OF exchange, how
: over. l differ with General n'tcf
cock. Ii is hard On our mon held /
: southern prianna not to relesse theu
: put ~ Is humanity to those left /
= the ranks to ilgnt cur battles.
: 70 commence a system Of CA
= change now which liberates all prison
! ers taken. we will have to fight O
untll tie whole gouth Is exterminat
. ed. Ii we hold those already caugh
! they amount to no moro than 8
many dead men. At this particula
time, to release all rebel prisoner
would insure Sherman's defeat AM
G. mpromiSe our safety here"
After ABUNDANT and indubitabl,
proofs, the responsibility for the SUI
reriog OF prisoners north and soutl
has teen laid upon the authorities O.
the ilted States government, and
here let 1t abide in history.
1h.nkB His Erionds.
TO the Democratic Voters OF South
Carolina:
nlr Lll. ~-A n