The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-05-13

UNWILLING ExERCIsEs TAKE
PLACE AT ANDEnsoNvILLfn.


Andersonvflle, Ca. May 1z-Tne
monument erected bv. the Georgia d.
vision. United Daughters Of the Con-
federacy. to the memory Of Captain
Henry Wirz, In charge OF the Federal
prisoners confined at Andersonvfile In
1ss4-b, was unveiled here today. with
appropriate exercises.
The town was thronged with visit
ors. many Of whom arrived today on
special trains. Scattered among the
5000 or more Southerhers. mostly
Georgians from nearby towns. was .
sprinkling Of men and women OF the
North. some OF whom have relatives at
rest In the National Cemetery nearby.
numbered among the $4,000 warriors OF
the Blue who died In the Andersonvills
prison.
Notwithstanding. there was not .
single incident to mar the exercises.
those from bevond Mason and Dfxon's
line looking on in silence while those
who gathered to pay tribute to the
memory of the prison commander. per-
formed that service with enthusiasm
and a spirit of marked devotion.
The stars and Bars of the Confed-
eracy were everywhere In evidence. as
was bounteousness of spring flowers.
floral tributes of beautiful design lit
orally covering the base of the granite
shaft, which sends Its slender mono
Iithic apex to height Of thirty-six
feet.
AS the silken cords were drawn by
Mrs. Perrin. Of Natchez, Miss. only liv-
ing daughter Of Captain Wirz. 5000
voices. led by a chorus of the Daugh-
tiers Of the Confederacy, Joined In sing
ing "Dixie," following which tho myri-
ads OF floral wreaths were piled
high about the monument. adding TO
it's massive appearance
Refreshments were served by the
Daughters OF the Confederacy to the
several thousand visitors to whom the
day was one altogether delightful.
Addresses were made by Pleasant A.
stovall, editor. Of The Savannah Press:
DR.. ]. c. Olmstead. of Atlanta, and
Captain L. NJ. Park. Of Augusta. The
latter was on duty at Andersonvfile Tor
a time during the war and gave q very
interesting account of his personal rec
objections of the Andersonyille military
prison. which was listened to with un-
usual interest.
The Invocation at the opening OF the
exercises wasSdelivered by Rev. Father
Mcmahon. of Albany. "a. The singing
of Maryland. My Maryland" by the
large chorus. the firing of o salute BY
the military company OF Americas, Ca.
and the sounding of taps brought the
exercises to close.
Captain wirz was q native OF 6xvitz-
$500
After the close of the civil war he was
tried by O. military commission at
Washington. d. c.. on charges OF muir
der and fagrant cruelty to prisoners In
his care, contrary to the customs and
laws of civilized warfare. was convict
ed, condemned to death and executed
at Washington. November 10. 1855
Springtime flowers were heaped up
on the monument and speakers who
loved and respected the lost cause"
stood near its base under the once rival
flags and told many incidents In the
career OF Wirz, stories of kindness to
Northern prisoners and of aims to se-
cure for them food and shelter which
he could not get.
Pleasant A. Stoyall, editor Of The
Savannah Press, said that the dedica-
ton was not intended to reopen Ques-
lions long since settled. but to do an
act Of justice too long delayed. or
the difficulties under which Wirx work.
ed he said:
perate men,, some OF them brave and
good; but others were recent arrivals
from abroad. who barely spoke the
English language. who were without
understanding of the causes OF the
war merely meTcenaries.s He was
hampered at every step by tier extgenrr
cies Of his own Ge1ernment ~ GfTeoE
travelling through South Georgia dur-
ing the latter. part of the war he re-
lated that the train stopped at Ander-
sonvIlle. There entered his car a Con-
federate oficcr named Wirz. who said
he was in charge Of the prison and
that the men were greatly in need OF
provisions and protection. They were,
without blankets and shelter and were
inadequately supplied with food"
DR.. J. C.. Olmstead Of Atlanta re-
lated an instance Hof Wirz going per.
sonaliy to Macon. Ga, to solicit food
and medicine for the prisoners at An
Jacksonville.
The tone of all the speeches was one
of fraternal regard for both sides In
the war.
It was learned that a report had been
spread through many sections OF this
state that the national cemetery and
prison park would be closed today.
Both these places were open as usual