The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-05-02
[BY OUR OWN SPECIAL REPORTER.
Trial Of Major John E. Gee.
TUESDAY, APRIL "a, 1866.


TUESDAY, APRIL "a, 1866.
Capt John A. Fuqua again on the stand, and
the cross examination continued.
Does not know that the prisoners had been
without food at the time of the outbreak-did not
think they had.
The dead line where Lieut. Davis was shot was
about ten feet from the palisade-the line was
clearly defined; it was made by the sentries
placed>t there before the building of the platform
around the wall. Lieut.. Davis was killed in the
latter part of October-witness knew of no order
in regard to this dead line, EXCEPT the warning
from the sentinels-when witness saw the body
of Lieut.. Davis, it had been moved from where he
fell-suppose by the officers in prison. Don't
know that ldaj. Gee had any other report of the
affair than that made by witness-the sentry was
removed before the regular time of relie-does
not know of any investigation of the affair-does
not know of prisoner ever having given any fur
loughs.
There were no sinks for the oficers-they pas
sed over the line under guard to place in the
yard assigned them-knows of no other prisoner
being killed there of his own knowledge; heard
of one or more others-knows of no investigation
in regard to them, of his own knowledge-don't
know how many prisoners died at Salisbury-the
surgeon reported, sometimes five or six, and
sometimes as high as twenty. Thinks the prison
ers could have broken out if they could have got
to the palisade
Don't recollect of Maj. Gees saying he had had
injustice done him, or that he had been over.
slaughed in the consolidation of regiments in
Virginia Never saw Maj Gee wear a cloak or
hat at Salisbury-thnk he wore neither-don't
know how many prisoners escaped from Salisbury
some of the prisoners appeared feeble and some
robust-those he saw in the yard did not appear
to be suffering-does not know how many prison
ers left there-thinks 5000 or 5000 in all-saw
them they took the trains, or were brought out
to be marched to Greensboro.
REDIRECT.
Did not generally get the number of guards for
which requisition was made-requistions for
rations were signed by Maj. Gee-they were made
out and filled in the usual form. Witness had
but little duty to perform while at Salisbury
was second in command and would have perform
ed the duties of commandant in case of the alb
sence or sickness of Maj. Gee. Saw, perhaps, a
hundred prisoners brought back who had escap-
ed-never knew one punished. The obstacles in
the way of building huts for the prisoners were
want of transportation a1fd tools-teams were
scarce-there were not more than ten or twelve
at the post-there was not guard force enough to
90 out with prisoners for timber.
Does not think Maj. Gee responsible for the
building of workshops instead of shelter for the
prisoners by Maj Morfitt-under the order ap-
pointing Maj. Morftt to Salisbury by Gen. Gard
ner MOritt was responsible-that the words in
the order "erect no buildings except on approval
of the commandant of prison posts" made Nor
fit and not Gee responsible.
Had the guard asked for daily been furnished,
Maj. Gee could have sent larger guard with pri-
soners for water-when Maj. Gee made requisi-
tion for rations his legal duty ended, but he fire.
quently visited the commissary and urged him on
the subject.
BY THE COURT.
The ground between and back of the log huts
was set apartfor convalescents-don't know how
the rules of the prison were made known to the
prisoners. Maj. Gee sometimes wore citizen
overcoat of brown color trimmed with fur, in very
cold weather-it was an old coat There was no
special shelter for the convaescents--they had
the privilege of the hospitals. Remember now,
that the prison rules were given to the chiefs of
divisions to be published to the men-learned
this from Mr. Lverly, who was clerk of the prison,
overlooked the cook-house, &c.
Isaac H. Martin, sworn: Is a carpenter-was at
Salisbury prison serving ont a sentence of Court
Martial at the time the prisoners came there
assis ed to enlarge the palisade fence of tho pri
son-this work was commenced three or four
days before the arrival of the prisoners of war
(witness explained from the map, the plan of the
alterations)-the lumber used was from the old
fence-there was no other there-the palisade was
not completed when the prisoners arrived, wit
ness described the manner in which the sentinels
were placed The most of the fence was very
weak-it could be shaken with the hand-Maj
Gee ordered witness on one occasion to strength
Ell some of the weakest places, which was parti-
ally done-the platform was not finished until
or weeks after prisoners came this somewhat
strengthened the stockade-they picked up lum-
Der about wherever it could be had.
There was plan to erect six buildings in the
prison, 200 feet long, 30 wide and two stories
high-one was framed and another had the sills
ready, when Gen. Winder arrivedsand ordered
Maj Moritt to stop the work, as the prisoners
were to be removed-thinks this was about the
first of December, 1854 There were II men at
work on these buildings, nine of them from
among the prisoners-the tools used belonged to
him.