Prison Life in the Old Capitol and Reminiscences of the Civil War

The little episode in relation to the Fairfax Court House raid will need no apology for its introduction, as I have already had occasion to refer to that affair in my diary. I have before me a report of a sermon from the New York Press, May, 1909, in which a minister of the Gospel residing within the limits of Greater New York speaks of “the infamous Captain Wirz”—“a murderer.” It is charitable to attribute such language from the lips of a minister to ignorance rather than malice.

Yet, while persons are found who entertain and publicly express such sentiments, I cannot be open to the charge of desiring to awaken and perpetuate bitter memories if I seek to place on record the true history of Major Wirz, to refute the falsehoods and misrepresentations which have crept into history and are still believed by some.