The Irish standard., 1906-09-01
CAPT. HENRY WIRz
Was the Commander Of Ander-
sonville Prison During
The Civil War Guilty Of Grimes
Alleged Against Him?

Catholic Columbian of August 25, will
prove interesting reading at this time:
At the recent encumpment of the
Grand Army of the Republic in Min
neapolis, a protest was made against
the erection of Il monument to Cap
tain Henry Wirz, commander of the
Andersonville prison during the Civil
War;
Captain Wirz was tried by a mill
,ary commission, declared guilty and
executed in 1865, in the excitement of
war times after the assassination of
President Lincoln, when the feelings
of the people We're at the point of
phrensy. Forty years after those
bloody days, the truth should be coldly
told and calmly accepted.
Henry Nirz was as innocent of the
crimes alleged against him as Mrs.
Surratt was guiltless Of completely in
the killing of Abraham Lincoln and
his execution was equally Il judicial
murder perpetratcd by the gorern-
lnent.
He was Il Catholic, and. attended
by the Rev. Father Boyle, after re-
ceiving holy Communion, H. died pro-
testing his innocence
Of what felonies was he accused
that his memory is still odious?
]. OF conspiracy. in that he con-
spired with Jefferson Davis, Seldom
Howell Cobb. r. Il. Winder, r. II.
Stevenson and others to kill Union
prisoners. During the trial not Il par
iclc of evidence was introduced to
sustain this charge. and all the others
accused were let off. Surely a man
cannot conspire alone. Yet lie was
convicted Of this charge.
9. OF murder, in violation of the
laws and customs of war, in that he
had himself killed or had unlawfully
ordered killed Il number of prisoners.
About 145 out of 100 witnesses on
both sides stated that he had never
killed any Union prisoners with his
own hands Or otherwise. Some Is
witnesses testified against him on this
point. but when they were asked the
names of the victims in most cases
they could not give them, and, when
they could, no such persons could be
identified. The chief witness against
Captain Wirz on this charge was
named Felix de la Baume. He de-
France and grandnephew Of the
Marquis de Lafayette. He swore
against the accused that he had seen
him slay Union prisoner. Upon
his testimony the judge advocate laid
stress in the final argument as most
convincing. That man. a few days
pointed to a clerkship in the Interior
Department. That was on October IL,
1865. So he was rewarded for his per-
jury. This occurred while one Of the
witnesses for the defense (Duncam
was arrested in open court and placed
in prison before he had testified.
That was the way the alleged trial
was conducted. Well, Il few days
after Wirz had been hanged. some
German American citizens in WASH
ingtOn recognized dc III Baumc as a
deSerter from the Seventh New York
Regiment (Steubcns) named Felix
Ocser. native Of Saxony. They in
formed Secretary Harlan. After due
investigation. the descrter. impostcr
and perjurer was dismissed from the
government service. The most i'm
portant witness was proved Il liar and
cast out of office on November 81
1865. eleven days after Wirz was
strangled on the gallows partly
through his false testimony. The
records of the government will verify
these statements.
3. OF cruelties To the prisoners
starving them, giving the sick no
medicine. contining them closely in
pens. etc. The men responsible for
the sO-called cruclties Of Anderson :
Vile prison We're members of the gov
'ernment in Washington, and chiefly
Edwin NJ. Stanton, Secretary OF War
That is the truth 1t can be proved
(a They declared medicines con-
traband of war. Never before was
such a barbarous declaration made
by a civilized nation. Drug stores
within the sphere of conflict were de-
stroyed. doctors were deprived of theil
private supplies. persons with passes
to visit within the army lines were
searched for quinine and other RENE.
dies the stocks on hand We're soon cx.
hausted, our navy prevented the I'M.
portation of medical supplies by sea
and on land the whole forces of tn,
administration, military and civil
blocked the ingress of drugs. Soor
the people of the South ana the arm,
Of the South lacked medicines fo
themselves. Many non-combatants
men, women and children, died TO
want of physic. Who will dare blam,
them that there was little or none 70
the Union prisoners?
(b) The Union forces devastate,
the South and made food scarce. Tha
ooi1 I,n Il