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our chessboard and men。
Thus entirely denuded； each boy was given a shove which sent him into a
little room； where a barber pressed him down upon a stool； and almost
before he understood what was being done； had his hair and beard cut off
as close as shears would do it。 Another tap on the back sent the shorn
lamb into a room furnished with great tubs of water and with about six
inches of soap suds on the zinc…covered floor。
In another minute two men with sponges had removed every trace of prison
grime from his body； and passed him on to two more men； who wiped him
dry； and moved him on to where a man handed him a new shirt； a pair of
drawers； pair of socks； pair of pantaloons； pair of slippers； and a
hospital gown； and motioned him to go on into the large room； and array
himself in his new garments。 Like everything else about the Hospital
this performance was reduced to a perfect system。 Not a word was spoken
by anybody； not a moment's time lost； and it seemed to me that it was not
ten minutes after I marched up on the balcony； covered with dirt； rags；
vermin； and a matted shock of hair； until I marched out of the room；
clean and well clothed。 Now I began to feel as if I was really a man
again。
The next thing done was to register our names； rank； regiment； when and
where captured； when and where released。 After this we were shown to our
rooms。 And such rooms as they were。 All the old maids in the country
could not have improved their spick…span neatness。 The floors were as
white as pine plank could be scoured； the sheets and bedding as clean as
cotton and linen and woolen could be washed。 Nothing in any home in the
land was any more daintily； wholesomely； unqualifiedly clean than were
these little chambers； each containing two beds； one for each man
assigned to their occupancy。
Andrews doubted if we could stand all this radical change in our habits。
He feared that it was rushing things too fast。 We might have had our
hair cut one week； and taken a bath all over a week later； and so
progress down to sleeping between white sheets in the course of six
months； but to do it all in one day seemed like tempting fate。
Every turn showed us some new feature of the marvelous order of this
wonderful institution。 Shortly after we were sent to our rooms；
a Surgeon entered with a Clerk。 After answering the usual questions as
to name； rank； company and regiment； the Surgeon examined our tongues；
eyes； limbs and general appearance； and communicated his conclusions to
the Clerk； who filled out a blank card。 This card was stuck into a
little tin holder at the head of my bed。 Andrews's card was the same；
except the name。 The Surgeon was followed by a Sergeant； who was Chief
of the Dining…Room； and the Clerk； who made a minute of the diet ordered
for us； and moved off。 Andrews and I immediately became very solicitous
to know what species of diet No。 1 was。 After the seasickness left us
our appetites became as ravenous as a buzz…saw； and unless Diet No。 1 was
more than No。 1 in name； it would not fill the bill。 We had not long to
remain in suspense； for soon another non…commissioned officer passed
through at the head of a train of attendants； bearing trays。 Consulting
the list in his hand； he said to one of his followers； 〃 Two No。 1's；〃
and that satellite set down two large plates； upon each of which were a
cup of coffee； a shred of meat； two boiled eggs and a couple of rolls。
〃Well；〃 said Andrews； as the procession moved away； 〃I want to know where
this thing's going to stop。 I am trying hard to get used to wearing a
shirt without any lice in it； and to sitting down on a chair； and to
sleeping in a clean bed； but when it comes to having my meals sent to my
room； I'm afraid I'll degenerate into a pampered child of luxury。 They
are really piling it on too strong。 Let us see； Mc。； how long's it been
since we were sitting on the sand there in Florence； boiling our pint of
meal in that old can？〃
〃It seems many years； Lale；〃 I said； 〃but for heaven's sake let us try to
forget it as soon as possible。 We will always remember too much of it。〃
And we did try hard to make the miserable recollections fade out of our
minds。 When we were stripped on the balcony we threw away every visible
token that could remind us of the hateful experience we had passed
through。 We did not retain a scrap of paper or a relic to recall the
unhappy past。 We loathed everything connected with it。
The days that followed were very happy ones。 The Paymaster came around
and paid us each two months' pay and twenty…five cents a day 〃ration
money〃 for every day we had been in prison。 This gave Andrews and I
about one hundred and sixty…five dollars apiecean abundance of spending
money。 Uncle Sam was very kind and considerate to his soldier nephews；
and the Hospital authorities neglected nothing that would add to our
comfort。 The superbly…kept grounds of the Naval Academy were renewing
the freshness of their loveliness under the tender wooing of the
advancing Spring； and every step one sauntered through them was a new
delight。 A magnificent band gave us sweet music morning and evening。
Every dispatch from the South told of the victorious progress of our
arms； and the rapid approach of the close of the struggle。 All we had to
do was to enjoy the goods the gods were showering upon us； and we did so
with appreciative； thankful hearts。 After awhile all able to travel were
given furloughs of thirty days to visit their homes； with instructions to
report at the expiration of their leaves of absence to the camps of
rendezvous nearest their homes； and we separated； nearly every man going
in a different direction。
CHAPTER LXXXII。
CAPTAIN WIRZ THE ONLY ONE OF THE PRISON…KEEPERS PUNISHEDHIS ARREST；
TRIAL AND EXECUTION。
Of all those more or less concerned in the barbarities practiced upon our
prisoners； but oneCaptain Henry Wirzwas punished。 The Turners； at
Richmond； Lieutenant Boisseux； of Belle Isle； Major Gee； of Salisbury；
Colonel Iverson and Lieutenant Barrett； of Florence； and the many brutal
miscreants about Andersonville； escaped scot free。 What became of them
no one knows； they were never heard of after the close of the war。 They
had sense enough to retire into obscurity； and stay there； and this saved
their lives； for each one of them had made deadly enemies among those
whom they had maltreated； who； had they known where they were； would have
walked every step of the way thither to kill them。
When the Confederacy went to pieces in April； 1865； Wirz was still at
Andersonville。 General Wilson； commanding our cavalry forces； and who
had established his headquarters at Macon； Ga。； learned of this； and sent
one of his staffCaptain H。 E。 Noyes； of the Fourth Regular Cavalry
with a squad。 of men； to arrest him。 This was done on the 7th of May。
Wirz protested against his arrest； claiming that he was protected by the
terms of Johnson's surrender； and； addressed the following letter to
General Wilson：
ANDERSONVILLE； GA。； May 7； 1865。
GENERAL：It is with great reluctance that I address you these lines；
being fully aware how little time is left you to attend to such matters
as I now have the honor to lay before you； and if I could see any other
way to accomplish my object I would not intrude upon you。 I am a native
of Switzerland； and was before the war a citizen of Louisiana； and by
profession a physician。 Like hundreds and thousands of others； I was
carried away by the maelstrom of excitement and joined the Southern army。
I was very severely wounded at the battle of 〃Seven Pines；〃 near
Richmond； Va。； and have nearly lost the use of my right arm。 Unfit for
field duty； I was ordered to report to Brevet Major General John H。
Winder； in charge of the Federal prisoners of war； who ordered me to take
charge of a prison in Tuscaloosa； Ala。 My health failing me； I applied
for a furlough and went to Europe； from whence I returned in February；
1864。 I was then ordered to report to the commandant of the military
prison at Andersonville； Ga。； who assigned me to the command of the
interior of the prison。 The duties I had to perform were arduous and
unpleasant； and I am satisfied that no man can or will justly blame me
for things that happened here； and which were beyond my power to control。
I do not think that I ought to be held responsible for the shortness of
rations； for the overcrowded state of the prison； （which was of itself a
prolific source of fearful mortality）； for the inadequate supply of
clothing； want of shelter； etc。； etc。 Still I now bear the odium； and
men who were prisoners have seemed disposed to wreak their vengeance upon
me for what they have sufferedI； who was only the medium； or； I may
better say； the tool in the hands of my superiors。 This is my condition。
I am a man with a family。 I lost all my property when the Federal army
besieged Vicksburg。 I have no money at present to go to any place； and；
even if I had； I know of no place where I can go。 My life is in danger；
and I most respectfully ask of you help and relief。 If you will be so
generous as to give me