Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-12-05

a kind-hearted man, who did all he
could &C alleviate the sufferings of
our men il Andersonville, and they
say that nothing unkind has ever
been proven of him. But no one
whom l have heard speak with
personal knowledge of the prison and
its management has a single good
word for the man. The only apol-
Iogy made for him is that he may
have been carrying out to the letter
the orders given him by Jefferson
Davis. l do no tknow just how that
may be.
l have just talked with Comrade
IC. H. Russell, pension clerk at the
Adiutant Generals ofrue, about Cap
tain Nirz. Mr.. Russell was, for
long time a prisoner in Andersonville.
He tells me that Wirz was a very
passionate man and exceedingly pro-
fame in speech; that his temper knew
no bounds when dealing with prison
ers; that he had himself been the
victim of the mans displeasure, and
knows whereof he speaks. He says
that he once saw Wirz shoot prison
err. The poor fellow had, because
of his sufferings, become insane, and
In that condition had run over the
dead-line Wirz ordered one of the
guards to shoot the poor boy, but he,
knowing his condition, fatty refused
to do so. Then Wirz shot him him
self. Russell says that this was
only one of the ways in which Captain
J Wirz made his spirit manifest. He
says he can tell of many more cases
of cruelty that were matters of COM
mon knowledge among those who
saw him every day as commandant
at the prison.
Comrade Russell Is a member,
with Comrades David James and
Lansing Williams, of the commission
to build the Wisconsin monument at
Andersonville. AS a member of this
commission he has during the past
year spent several weeks at Ander-
sonyiiIe. be says that while there
ne las talked with citizens who had
l.Ted there ever since the war, and
who well remember Wirz and his
ruaEaer of treating union prisoners.
He says that he never in all his talk
with those people heard a good word
for Wirz, and he does not believe that
they would be any more in favor of
a monument there for him than the
men who were in the prison in 1854
He says, too, that he has talked with
several old Confederate soldiers about
the same matter, and that not one of
them has spoken in favor of a monu-
ment for Wirz. One of these ex-
Confederates was guard at the pris-
on when Comrade Russell was there.
1t is a fact that the old soldiers.
northern and southern, are coming
to be able to fraternize with one an
other Neither would do anything
to do violence to the feelings of the
others Especially is this spirit
manifest among those who were pri-
Yates and entered into the hard and
dangerous service of the war. They
are among the best friends our Grand
Army man finds in the south, when
ever business or pleasure takes him
back to the fields of strife. If he
finds any of the old spirit of discus
sion 1t is pretty apr to be among
those who during the war were non
combatants or those born since the
war. 1t is the brave soldier who
knows how to respect another brave
soldier. do not think the rank
and file of the southern army--their
survivors-would ever think of put
ting up monument to Captain Wirz.
Every northern soldier honors the
memory Of such men as Robert E.
Lee and StonewaIl Jackson, as men
brave men,-but there is a place
where the line must be drawn. It is
probable that no other thing could be
done in the south that would tend so
to stir up the feelings of the best
Grad Army men as this WirZ monu-
ment talk is likely to do. II will go
far toward doing away with just the
feelings they would Ike to cherish
toward the south.
The story of the dedication of the
monument at Confederate Rest was
published in many papers both north
and south, and was known to thou
sands OF southern people, and they
we're grateful for the spirit thus
manifested. 1t has been understood
in many places in the south that on
Memorial Day here In Madison the
men of the G. A, R., the ladies of the
w. II. G. and the Sons of Veterans
pay Just as much attention to the dec
Grafton of the graves in Confederate
Rest as TO the graves of those who
fought for the preservation of our
country, that no distinction what
ever is made This same custom
will be continued, for the poor fell
lows resting up there are not at all
connected with what Captain Wirz
did, nor with the scheme of provid-
Ing a monument for him. But it is
certain that we shall have occasion,
while doing it, to exercise more and
more of the sweet spirit of charity.