ABBEVILLE COUNTY, SC - NEWSPAPERS - Abstracts from The Abbeville Press Dec 1865 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/sc/scfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed by: Candace Gravelle tealtree@comcast.net July 26, 2007 The Abbeville Press December 1865 NEWSPAPER ABSTRACTS FROM "THE ABBEVILLE PRESS", Abbeville, South Carolina for DECEMBER 1865 NEWSPAPER Issue of Friday, DECEMBER 8, 1865 CAPTAIN HENRY WIRZ LAST LETTER TO HIS WIFE The late Captain Henry Wirz, in his incomplete diary, under date of Oct. 1st, says that a man was at that time placed in his cell to prevent any attempt he might make to take his own life, but the man fell asleep. He writes that the reason he does not put an end to his existence was because what he suffered was the Will of God; and, in the second place, he owed it to himself, his family and his relatives and to the world at large to prove his innocence. As an evidence of the affection and education of Wirz, we append his letter, written just on the eve of his execution: Old Capitol Prison Washington, D.C. Nov. 10, 1865 My Dearest Wife and Children, When these lines reach you, the hand which wrote them will be stiff and cold. In a few hours from now, I shall be dead. Oh, if I could express myself as I wish, if I could tell you what I have suffered when I thought about you and the children! I must leave you, without the means to live, to the mission of a cold, cruel world. Lise, do not grieve, do not despair; we will meet again in a better world. Console yourself, think as I do, that I die innocent. Who knows better than you that all these tales of cruelties and murders are infamous lies, and why should I not say it? A great many call me hard-hearted, because I tell them that I am not guilty, that I have nothing to confess. Oh, think for a moment how the thought that I must suffer and die innocent must sustain me in the last terrible hour; that when I shall stand before my Maker I can say "Lord of those things you know I am not guilty." I have sinned often, and rebelled against thee. Oh, let my unmerited death be an atonement. Lise, I die reconciled. I die as I hope, as a Christian. This is His holy will, that I should die, and therefore let me say, "Thy will, O Lord, be done." I hardly know what to say. Oh, let me beg you, do not give away to despair. Think that I am gone to my Father, to your Father, to the Father of all, and that there, I hope to meet you. Live for the dear children. Oh, do take good care of Cora, kiss her for me; kiss Susan and Connella; do tell them to live so that we may meet again, in the Heaven above the skies; tell them that my last thoughts and my last prayer shall be for them. You ask me about Cora's schooling. My dear wife you must do now as you think best. In regard to your going to Europe, I would advise you to wait until you hear from them. I have written to my father; if he should be dead, to my brother; I hope he is still alive. I send you his address. You had better get a certificate of our marriage, also of Cora's birth and have it approved before a magistrate. If you should go to Europe, you would need it. I shall hand this latter to Mr. Schade who will send it to you with some other papers and books. This is all I can leave you; but no, I can leave you something more, something better, my blessing. God bless you all and protect you. God give you what you stand in need of and grant that you all so live, that when you die, you can say "Lord thou callest me, here I am." And now, farewell, wife, children, all. I will and must close; farewell, farewell, God be with us. Your unfortunate husband and father, H. Wirz -------- MARRIAGES Married on the 4th Sunday in October, by Rev. H.T. Spaulding, Mr. Joseph Bowen and Miss Mary Z. Crowder. Married on the 14th inst. by Rev. R.C. Grier, Mr. F.V. Pruitt to Miss Ettie McAdams, all of Abbeville district. ------- DEATHS Died, at Cokesbury, S.C. on Saturday, 2nd of December 1865 at 5:40 a.m., Fanny Strauss, wife of Maurice Strauss. ------- ESTATE SALE Willb e sold at the late residence of Stephen Lee, dec'd, on Tuesday the 19th inst., Household and Kitchen Furniture, Corn, Fodder, Wheat, Oats, Mules, Cows, Fat and Stock Hogs, Sheep, Plantation Tools and many other articles not mentioned; also a valuable tract of land containing 800 acres, well improved, lying within one mile of Calhoun's Mills, twelve miles south of Abbeville courthouse. James McCaslan, Executor Jane Lee, Executrix Dec. 5, 1865 --------- IMPORTANT SALE Will be sold on Thursday, the 14th of December, next, at the late residence of Wm. Young, dec'd, three miles south of Lowndesville in Abbeville district, Horses, Mules, Oxen, Cattle, Sheep, Fat Hogs, Stock Hogs, Corn, Wheat, Fodder, Plantation Tools, Wagons; also a valuable tract of land, known as the Mosely Tract, containing 444 acres, more or less, bounded by lands of Geo. R. McCalla and others. Sarah Young, by consent of Legatees Nov. 24, 1865 --------- IMPORTANT SALE Having rented my Plantation at Fair's Bridge on Little River, notice is hereby given that I will sell said place on Wednesday the 13th of next month, everything used in the operation of the farm, to wit: Horses, Mules, Cattle, Sheep, Hogs, Corn, Fodder, Husks, Wheat, Potatoes, Cotton Seed, Sorghum Syrup, Road Wagon, Blacksmith Tools, together with agricultural implements. James Fair Nov. 22, 1865 ----------