Omaha daily bee., 1911-06-04
The Trial of Major Henry Wirz

Jones, confederate surgeon, by direction
OF Surgeon General Moore Of the con-
federacy. Dr. Jones finds a terrible condi-
ton of things Of course, and honestly re-
ports same to headquarters. And General
Stibbs thinks this proves something for
his side Nay. IL is just the other way
Il shows the confederate government was
willing to put the probe in at Anderson
Vile and tell the truth about It, and do
the best they could to remedy the evil
conditions. II not why probe? Does this
look like "a conspiracy to destroy7'
Again, General stibbs tells OF an order
OF General Winder, when General Kill
patrick was advancing upon Andersonville
and II was feared he would turn the pris-
oners loose, or that, emboldened by his APP
proach, they would mutiny and escape.
General winder ordered that upon the
near approach OF the enemy and the at
tempt of the prisoners to escape to IRE
upon them with cannon, for II was better
that they should die than escape to ravsge
the helpless women and children in the
country about
Well would not Sherman or Grant or
any other good officer have done the same
thing under the circumstances? was II
not better these prisoners should die rather
than go loose to burn, ravage and murder
helpless women and children7 Perhaps II
may be said that they would not have done
It. Well, how about Sherman's Bum
mers" when Marching Through Georgia.
There is another point wish to speak Oh
Lieutenant Page in his book referred TO-
tells of a mass meeting held by the prison
ers of Andersonville, and their choosing
committee TO go TO Washington to implore
the federal government to exchange or
grant them some relief This has been de-
MED, but it is true. President Davis tells
OF IL in his Rise and Fall of the Southern
Confederacy." on page COZ he says: "one
final effort was made to obtain an ex-
change. This consisted in my sending
delegation from the prisoners at Anderson
Vile to plead their cause before the au-
thorities at Washington. 1t was of no avail
President Lincoln refused to see them. They
were made TO understand that the interests
Of the government of the United States, re-
ouired that they return to prison and re-
main there. They carried back the sad It'd
ings that their government held out no
hopes of relief
Does this look like a conspiracy by Davis
and Wirz ct al, to destroy these prison
ers?
Another thing, President Davis did or
directed, was to offer to the United states
government to buy medicine food, clothing
etc. from the federals for the federal
prisoners at Andersonville and let the
northern surgeons come and administer
these goods and care for the prisoners.
See Davis work, page Goa
Finding the federals would do nothing to
afford relief at Andersonville, the eonfeder-
ate government offered at last to turn
over the federals, without exchange all sick
and disabled prisoners If they would come
for them TO Savannah. II took about six
months to make a move on the fed
erals In this behalf but at last In No
vember, 1854, they sent, and having come
at last Unexpectedly, the confederate gov
eminent not having its sick all ready per
mitted 5000 prisoners to go without ex-
change. 1t Is true, the federals did send
in return, $500 for the 1900 sent them,
but Of these $500 one-fifth died on the way,
so terribly Ill and feeble were they, but the
federals would take no more from us.
Let me mention what forgot moment
ago in speaking OF the character OF the
evidence. One Felix de la Baume was the
chief witness against wirz. He knew It all.
Claimed to be a relative of Lafayette Just
eleven days after the trial he was dis
New York volunteers and was named Felix
Oscar, a bounty jumper and a first class
rascal lieutenant Page tells Of other
witnesses against Wirz, who afterwards
admitted that they lied. know
this is too long already. but permit me to
sum up some of the points have tried to
advance in this effort to show that there
is two sides to this story, at least another
side from that generally held by the north.
First. do not mean in any way to reflect
upon General Stibbs in what 1 have said.
He, no doubt, was trying to do his duty,
as were the others of the commission. 1t
will be said, and naturally-"Why, these
were good men, excellent men, who tried
Wirz; he had a fair trial, ETC." Yes, well,
those were good, honest pious men who
tried innocent men, women and children
for witchcraft at Salem and sent them
to death convicted of withcraft What was
the matter? o, just superstition. When
General Stibbs and his companions tried
Wirz mems hearts were hot with passion,
bitter as death against the SOUTH who, 1t
was being charged had just killed President
Lincoln. To read today the denunciations
of the south as a whole, uttered from the
Christian" pulpits of the north, makes
one actually shudder and ask II we have
or haQ then ChrlSIlan CIVILIZATION. II
Wirz were tried today on the same evil
dence he would be triumphantly acquitted,
even by General Stibbs.
Second. Wirz would not have been guilty
OF conspiracy as charged. for 1t could
not be shown that he "conspired" with any
person.
Third. It is incredible that Wirz would
have RNurdeTed some eight OF ten prisoners
openly or secretly and not soul know the
name OF a single one of them.
Fourth. Wirz asserted his innocence
from beginning to the end. Father Boyle,
his confessor. also firmly asserted the In
nocenoe of Wirz.
Fifth. The chief witness against Wirz
proved TO be utterly unprincipled and a
deserter and liar. Others were heard to
say that they lied in giving their evidence
Sixth. Out OF nearly 200 witnesses against
Wirz not a dozen told OF acts OF cruelty
some told OF kindness and care by Wlrz
for the prisoners. Witnesses for Wirz and
those found to be favorable to him were
quickly turned down.
The rsS5rds of the confederate govern
ment show that Wirz several times APP
pealed to it for help for these prisoners.
Lieutenant Pages book cites many in
stances OF Wirz's kindness.
mi -