The Andersonville Trial Essays - 1256 Words

â€Å"†¦and on the charge that the prisoner did with others to conspire to destroy the lives of soldiers in the military service of the United States in violation of the laws and customs of war-Guilty† were the words that soared out of Wallace’s mouth at the end of the trial. It was then that Henry Wirz was found guilty. Why? Why was he found guilty? This decision was based on the emotional aspect of the witnesses, and not by the actual guilt. Not only my defense, but also the defense of Wirz’s attorney, Baker, the testimony of the defendant, Henry Wirz, shows that Wirz should not have been found guilty. Henry Wirz ran Andersonville, one of the many Confederate prison camps, which was located in Georgia. Andersonville opened in†¦show more content†¦Davidson, Jasper Culver, and Dr. John C. Bates were called to the stand to prove that Henry Wirz was guilty. Fortunately, these three witnesses have testified Wirz as being not guilty. One of the witnesses was James H. Davidson Davidson was a prisoner at the camp who was called to the stand to testify about the dogs. He stated that the dogs in Andersonville were very harmful and had wounded, or had even killed, some of the Union soldiers. When being asked questions by Chipman, the attorney for prosecution, Davidson stated that the prisoners who tried to escape were mauled by the dogs. He also said that Wirz watched and cheered as the dogs were attacking the soldiers saying, â€Å"get those Yankee bastards!† Why should this be Wirz’s fault? Why? Perhaps Davidson himself was not so close to the dog attack, because he himself was not attacked; therefore, he cannot prove that it is Wirz’s fault for the dogs. The man that was dragged into the camp could have, indeed, survived. No one, I repeat no one, has proof that that man had been killed. Lastly, many of the men had wounds on their bodies; but, why are the dogs to blame? Those wounds and scratch es could have been caused by something else other than those dogs. Not only did many of these deaths come from the dogs, but a lot of the deaths came from the deadline. The deadline was a border along the Andersonville camp; if an individual crossed the deadline,Show MoreRelated History of Andersonville Prison Essay4617 Words   |  19 PagesHistory of Andersonville Prison When one turns on the television today they are made witness to all the crimes that are present in society. It is impossible to sit through thirty-five minutes of news without anger and rage becoming aroused. This is because society is bothered by infinitesimal paraphernalia. Society also believes in human rights and punishment for those who violate such rights. Yet what constitutes humanity? Ever sit there and watch the news and wonder just how far humanity reachesRead More Andersonville (the Movie) Essay856 Words   |  4 PagesAndersonville (the Movie) â€Å"Five hundred men moved silently toward the gates that would shut out life and hope for most of them forever. Quarter of a mile from the railroad we came into a massive palisade with great squared logs standing upright in the ground. Fires blazed up and showed us a section of these and two massive wooden gates with heavy iron hinges and bolts. They swung open as we stood there and we passed through into the space beyond. We were at Andersonville.† – Private John McElroyRead MoreFranz Lieber and the Lieber Code1305 Words   |  5 Pagesimmediately lowered food and clothing rations of their prisoners to make it more equitable to that of confederate prisons (Hesseltine, 1962). 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Some examples include murder, medical experiments,Read MoreThe War Of The World War II1730 Words   |  7 Pagespublication of the Lieder Code in the United States, and at the international level with the adoption of the treaties during the Hague Conventions of 1899 and 1907. Moreover, trials in national courts during this period further helped clarify the law. Following the end of World War II, major developments in the law occurred. Numerous trials of Axis war criminals established the Nuremberg principles, such as notion that war crimes constituted crimes defined by international law. Additionally, the Geneva ConventionsRead MoreThe American Civil War6915 Words   |  28 Pagesrunaway slave could be fined $1,000. People suspected of being a runaway slave could be arrested without warrant and turned over to a claimant on nothing more than his sworn testimony of ownership. A suspected black slave could no t ask for a jury trial nor testify on his or her behalf. Any person aiding a runaway slave by providing shelter, food or any other form of assistance was liable to six months imprisonment and a $1,000 fine. Those officers capturing a fugitive slave were entitled to a feeRead MoreA Description of Bleeding Kansas3703 Words   |  15 PagesActs over his veto. The first U.S. president to be impeached, he survived the Senate removal by only one vote. He was a very weak president. 14. Spain ceded Florida to the United States and gave up its claims to the Oregon Territory Andersonville 13. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. Daniel Webster Senator who, originally pro-North, supported the Compromise of 1850 and subsequently lost favor from his constituency, noted orator, constitutional lawyer, senator, secretaryRead MoreAmerican Spirit Volume I3787 Words   |  16 PagesFascinates Franklin (1739) 89 2. Jonathan Edwards Paints the Horrors of Hell (1741) 91 C. The Colonial Economy 93 1. The West Indian Connection (1766) 93 2. The Pattern of Colonial Commerce (1766) 93 D. The Shoots of Democracy 96 1. The Epochal Zenger Trial (1735) 96 2. Crevecoeur Finds a Perfect Society (c. 1770) 98 The Duel for North America, 1608-1763 100 A. The Development of New France 100 1. Father Isaac Jogues Endures Tortures (1642) 100 2. A Swede Depicts the Indian Trade (1749) 103 B. The French