Specifications of the Murder Charges against Henry Wirz, Commandant of Andersonville Prison
There were multiple Specifications in the indictment brought against Henry Wirz. The list below are the specific instances in which Wirz is alleged to have directly caused the death of prisoners. In addition to the charges below, Wirz was alleged to have ordered guards to shoot and kill prisoners, and to have conspired with others to cause the deaths of prisonser.
Specification #1: Henry Wirz on the eight day of July, 1864, while acting as commander did make an assault upon a prisoner (unknown name) inflicting upon the body a mortal wound with a pistol - the said soldier died the ninth day of July, 1864.
Specification #2: On September 20th, 1864, Henry Wirz did with malice aforethought jump upon, stamp, kick, bruise, and otherwise injure with the heels of his boots a soldier (unknown name) belonging to the United States Army - the said soldier died.
Specification #3: On the 13th day of June, 1864, Henry Wirz, commander of the camp at Andersonville of the so-called Confederate States of America did shoot and discharge a pistol inflicting upon the body of a soldier (unknown name) a mortal wound from which the soldier died.
Specification #4: On May 30th, Henry Wirz with a certain pistol did feloniously and with malice aforethought, inflict upon a soldier (unknown name) a mortal wound from which the soldier died.
Specification #5: On August 20th, 1864, Henry Wirz, an officer of the so-called Confederate States, did confine and bind with instruments of torture a soldier belonging to the Army of the United States (unknown name) and in consequence of such cruel treatment the said soldier died on the 30th day of August.
Specification #6: On February 1, 1864, Henry Wirz did confine and bind a U. S. soldier (unknown name) and from such torture he died on the 6th day.
Specification #7: On July 20, Henry Wirz did fasten and chain together several persons, soldiers of the U. S. (unknown names) binding the necks and feet of said soldiers closely together and compelling them to carry heavy burdens, large iron balls chained to their feet and in consequence of such treatment one of them died.
Specification #8: May 15, 1864, Henry Wirz did order a rebel soldier (unknown name) to fire upon a soldier of the U. S. Army (unknown name) inflicting upon him a mortal wound from which he died.
Specification #9: On the 21st day of July, Henry Wirz did order a rebel soldier (unknown name) to fire upon a soldier, a prisoner of war (unknown name) inflicting a mortal wound from which the prisoner died.
Specification #10: On August 20, 1864, Henry Wirz did order a rebel soldier (unknown name) to fire upon a U. S. soldier (unknown name) inflicting a mortal wound from which he died.
Specification #11: July 1, 1864, Henry Wirz did incite, and urge ferocious bloodhounds to pursue, attack, wound, and tear in pieces soldiers belonging to the U. S. Army, and a prisoner (unknown name) was so mortally wounded that on the sixth day he died.
Specification #12: On or about July 27, Henry Wirz did order a sentinel to shoot a prisoner.
Specification #13: On August 3rd, 1864, Henry Wirz with a pistol called a revolver did beat and bruise the head, shoulders and breast of a soldier, a prisoner of war (unknown name) inflicting mortal wounds from which he died August 4th, 1864.