The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-04-26
BY OUR OWN SPECIAL REPoRTER.
Trial Of Major John E. Gee.
TUESDAY. APRIL a, 1866.


Capt. John A. Fuqua again on the stand, and
Il 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
clearly defined; it made by the sertries
placed there before the building of the platform
around the wall Lieut.. Davis was killed in the
latter part of Octobcr-witness knew of no order
in regard to this dead line, EXCEPT the warning
from the scntincls-whCn witness saw the body
of Lieut. Davis, it had been moved from where he
frfI-suppose by the officers in prison. Don't
know that IIaj. Gee had any other report of the
affair than that made by witncss-thc sentry was
removed before the regular time of rclief-does
not know of any Investigation OF the afair-does
not know of prisoner ever having given any fur
lou@hs.
There were no sinks for the officers-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 othcrs-knows of no investigation
in regard to them of his own knowlcdgc-dont
know how many prisoners died at SalisbuTy-thc
surgeon reported, sometimes five six, and
sometimes high as twenty. Thinks the prison
ers could have broken out if they could have got
to the paiisade.
Don't rcccllect of Maj. Gees saying he had had
injustice done him, or that he had been over.
slauehed, in the consolidation of regiments in
Virginia. Never Maj Gee cloak or
hat at Saiisbury-think he wore ncithcr-don't
know how many prisoners escaped from Salisbury
some of the prisoners appeared feeble and some
roJust-those he saw in the yard did not appear
to be sufitring-does not know how many prison
MO
them as they took the trains, or brought out
to be marched to Greensboro.
REDIRECT.
Did not generally get the number of guards for
which reGuisiton was neutrality-suspicious. for
rations were signed by Maj. Gee-ti!ey were made
out and filed 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
scnce or sickness of Maj. Gee Saw, perhaps, a
hundred prisoners brought back who had escap-
cd-never knew punished. The obstacles in
the way of building huts for the prisoners were
want Of transportation and tools-teams were
scarce-thcre were not more than ten twelve
at the post-there not guard force enough to
go out with prisoners for timber.
Does not think Maj. Gee responsible for the
building of workshops instead of shelter for the
pointing Maj Morftt to Salisbury by Gen Gard
ner, Morftt was responsiblc-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-
ton for rations his legal duty ended but he fire.
quently visited the comnssary and urged him on
the subject.
BY THE COURT.
The ground between and back of the log huts
was set apart for cOnvalescents-don't know how
the rules of the prison were made known to the
prisoners. Maj. Gee sometimes wore a citizen
Oyercoat of brown color trimmed with fur in very
cold weather-it old coat. There was no
special shelter for the convalcscents--thcy had
the privilege of the hospitals. Remember, now,
that the prison rules given to the chiefs of
divisions to be published to the men-lcarned
this from Mr.. L,erly, who was clerk of the prison
overlooked the cook-house, &C.
Isaac IL. Martin, sworn: Is a carpenter-was at
Salisbury prison serving ont sentence of Cont
Martial at the time the prisoners came there
assist ed to enlarge the palisade fence of tho pri
son--this work commenced three or four
days before the arrival of the prisoners of war
(witness explained from the map, the plan of the
alterations 1.-THE lumber used was from the ole
fence-there other there-the palisade was
not completed when the prisoners arrived, [wit
ness described the manner in which the sentinel;
were placed.l The most of the fence was very
weak-it could be shaken with the hand-Maj
Gee ordered witness on one occasion to strength
&c some of the weakest places, which was parti
ally done-the platform was not finished until
4 or weeks after prisoners came this somewhat