Goldsboro semi-weekly argus., 1909-05-15
CAPT. HENRY W|Rz
MEMORIAL UNVEILED
The Georgia Division United
Daughters of COnfederacy
HOnOrs a Hero.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Offered Pardon on Condition Of In
eliminating President Davis
and Generating Himself
But Refused.

everlasting memorial of Capt. Henry
Wirz, commander of the Anderson
Vile prison, and who forfeited his life
as a result of his devotion to duty
and his u%nfinching loyalty to the Con-
federate cause, was unveiled here to-
day. The event marked the fruition
of several years of patient and loving
effort on the part of the Georgia divi-
sion of the United Daughters of the
Confederacy.
Simple but impressive ceremonies
attended the dedication of the memo
rial. Delegations of Confederate vet
Grams, their wives, sons and daughters
came from Savannah, Atlanta, Macon,
Augusta and other cities throughout
the state. Splendid entertainment
was furnished the visitors by the An
Jacksonville and Americas chapters of
the Daughters of the Confederacy. The
principal address of the day was de-
livered by Pleasant A. Stovall, edi-
tor of the Savannah Press.
The completion and dedication of
the Wirz monument marks the n of
a controversy that dated almost from
the time that the project for it's cree
ton was first preached at a v
ton held in Macon in 1905. Differ
ence of opinion arose among the
Daughters as to the selection of a
site for the memorial. Richmond, the
capital Of the Confederacy, was first
selected. The choice was not salts
factory, however, and the matter was
reopened. Savannah, Augusta and
several other cities put in applications
and it was finally decided that Ander-
sonYille would be the most apprOpri-
ate place for the monument.
A controversy also arose in regard
to the inscription to be put on the
monument. The inscription at first
chosen bore the statement that Cap
tain Wirz had been murdered by the
United States government. Owing to
objections it was decided to change
the inscription. The inscription on
the face of the monument as it now
stands is as follows:
"In memory of Capt. Henry Wirz.
c.. S. A, porn Zurich, Switzerland,
1922. Sentenced to death and exc
cuted at Washington, D. c., November
Is, 1865. To rescue his name from
the stigma attached to it by embit-
tered prejudice this shaft is erected by
the Georgia Division United Daughters
of the ~Confederacy.
"Discharging his duty with such hui
mainly as the harsh circumstances of
the times and the policy of the foe
permitted, Captain Wirz became at
last the victim of a misdirected pop
ular clamor. He vas arrested in time
of peace while under b protection
of a parole, tried by a military COM
mission of a service to which he did
minious death on charges of excessive
cruelty to Federal prisoners. He in
dignantly spurned a pardon proffered
on condition that he would incrimi-
nate President Davis and thus xon
crate himself from charges of which
both were innocent.
cit is hard on our men in South
ern prisons not to exchange them, but
it is humanity to those left in the
ranks to fight our battles. At this
particular time to release all rebel
prisoners North would insure Sher-
mans defeat and would compromise
our safety here.
ULYSSES S. GRANT.
August IS, 1864
when time shall have softened
passion and prejudice, when reason
shall have stripped the mask from
Misrepresentation, then Justice, hold
ing evenly her scales, will require
much of past censure and praise to
| change places.
".JEFFERSON DAVIS.
December, 1885,"