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Updated: May 9, 2025
The commandant of the prison one Captain Bowes was the best of his class it was my fortune to meet. Compared with the senseless brutality of Wirz, the reckless deviltry of Davis, or the stupid malignance of Barrett, at Florence, his administration was mildness and wisdom itself.
For instance, a chum of mine, and in the same squad with me, was Charles L. Soule, of the Third Michigan Infantry. His name appeared on the rolls: "Chas. L. Soule, priv. Co. E, 8d Mich. Inf., 1-2." That is, he belonged to the Second Squad of the First Detachment. Where Wirz got his, preposterous idea of organization from has always been a mystery to me.
They had the same rattlesnake venom of the Home Guard crowd wherever we met it, and shot us down at the least provocation. Fortunately they only formed a small part of the sentinels. Best of all, we escaped for a while from the upas-like shadow of Winder and Wirz, in whose presence strong men sickened and died, as when near some malign genii of an Eastern story.
Thereupon Wirz announced that no rations would be issued to the camp that day. The orders to stand in ranks were repeated the next morning, with a warning that a failure to obey would be punished as that of the previous day had been.
The six doomed men followed, walking between double ranks of Rebel guards. All came inside the hollow square and halted. Wirz then said: "Brizners, I return to you dose men so Boot as I got dem. You haf tried dem yourselves, and found dem guilty I haf had notting to do wit it. I vash my hands of eferyting connected wit dem. Do wit dem as you like, and may Gott haf mercy on you and on dem.
The main facts of the dense over-crowding, the lack of sufficient shelter, the hideous mortality were cited, and to these added a long list of specific acts of brutality, such as hunting men down with hounds, tearing them with dogs, robbing them, confining them in the stocks, cruelly beating and murdering them, of which Wirz was personally guilty.
If he had left the clubs lying where thrown, there would have been some compensation for his meanness, but he always came in and carefully gathered up such as he could get, as ammunition for another time. I have heard men speak of receiving justice even favors from Wirz. I never heard any one saying that much of Barrett.
As one of my chums said to me: "Wirz is the most even-tempered man I ever knew; he's always foaming mad." This was nearly the truth. I never saw Wirz when he was not angry; if not violently abusive, he was cynical and sardonic.
In the meantime I have the honor General, to remain, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hy. WIRZ, Captain C. S. A. Major General T. H. WILSON, Commanding, Macon. Ga. He was kept at Macon, under guard, until May 20, when Captain Noyes was ordered to take him, and the hospital records of Andersonville, to Washington. Between Macon and Cincinnati the journey was a perfect gauntlet.
Wirz, who happened to be in a complaisant humor, approved of the design, and allowed him the use of the enclosure of the North Gate to confine his prisoners in. In spite of Key's efforts at secrecy, information as to his scheme reached the Raiders. It was debated at their headquarters, and decided there that Key must be killed. Three men were selected to do this work.
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