“Let’s talk of graves, of worms, and epitaphs; Make dust our paper, and with rainy eyes Write sorrow on the bosom of the earth. Let’s choose executors, and talk of wills: And yet not so,—for what can we bequeath, Save our deposed bodies to the ground?” KING RICHARD II. The number of prisoners confined in the Andersonville prison, all told, was forty-five thousand six hundred and thirteen. Of these twelve thousand nine hundred and twelve died there, or in other words two men out of every seven who were confined in that prison died there, and the average length of time of imprisonment was only four months. That this was largely due to causes within the control of the Confederate authorities I propose to show by the sworn testimony of one of their own men who was in a position to know, and speak authoritatively. On the 6th day of August 1864 Surgeon Joseph Jones, of the Confederate army, was detailed by the Surgeon General to proceed to Andersonville, and investigate and report, upon the phenomena of the diseases prevailing there. His visit was not for the benefit of the prisoners, but for purely scientific purposes. His report, from which I quote, tells a story of such as no prisoner could tell, for, if any were qualified to make such investigation and report, they had no opportunity to do so. These extracts from the above mentioned report are taken from “Andersonville,” a book which I wish every civilized person in the world could read. This report was part of the testimony offered and accepted at the trial of Wirz, and is now on file in the office of the Judge Advocate General of the United States, at Washington. “MEDICAL TESTIMONY.” (Transcript from the printed testimony at Wirz Trial, pages 618 to 639, inclusive). “Dr. Joseph Jones for the prosecution. By the Judge Advocate: Question. Where do you reside? Answer. In Augusta, Georgia. Ques. Are you a graduate of any medical college? Ans. Of the University of Pennsylvania. Ques. How long have you been engaged in the practice of medicine? Ans. Eight years. Ques. Has your experience been as a practitioner, or rather as an investigator of medicine as a science? Ans. Both. Ques. What position do you hold now? Ans. That of Medical Chemist in the Medical College of Georgia, at Augusta. Ques. How long have you held your position in that college? Ans. Since 1858. Ques. How were you employed during the Rebellion? Ans. I served six months in the early part of it as a private in the ranks, and the rest of the time in the medical department. Ques. Under the direction of whom? Ans. Under the direction of Dr. Moore, Surgeon General. Ques. Did you, while acting under his direction, visit Andersonville, professionally? Ans. Yes Sir. Ques. For the purpose of making investigations there?