The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-04-25
[Br OUR OWN SPECIAL REPoRrER.l
Trial Of Major John 4. Gee.
FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 1866.

NSNS-
The journal of Thursday was read.
The direct examination of Capt Ohm A. Fuqua,
for the defense, was resumed.
After the arrival of the prisoners of war, some
of them employed as cooks-thinks there
was but two or three days notice OF the prisoners
coniing-the preparations for them were very in
complete-the paiisade was put up after their
arrival. Gen. Gardner was there just before the
prisoners came-the grounds were enlarged and
wells dug as fast as the means at hand aiforde,.-
Gee made reqdisition on Goodman for lumber,
but did not get it, as Goodman did not have it,
but got some in few days for the palisade. Maj
Gee tclegraphed to Richmond, urging against
sending prisoners Of war to Salisbury, because of
the unsuItabencss OF the place and the want of
provisions, water, wood. and shelter-the only
reply Was the continued arrival oil prisoners.
Witness examined two places on the Yadkin, at
the instance Of Gen. Gardner, but found thcn
unfit for the purpose Of Il prison-an attempt was
then made to turn the creek, near the town,
through the prison grounds, but this was found
impraetica5ie, on account of the ascent and want
OF machinery. The supplies of food had been
drained in the country around Salisbury to furnish
Gen. Lees arlny-t.is was urged by Maj. Gee, as
a reason against sending the prisoners there.
Witness had frequent conversations with Maj.
Gee, in regard to the sickness and mortality
among the prsoners-Maj. Gee deplored their
condition. Often there were rations to give
out, and the officers sat up at night awaiting
trains to bring in food. The prisoners brought in
water in barrels-they had plenty of barrels
there were as many men furnished to go with the
prisoners for water, as the number detailed as
guard by the commander of the troops, would
allOw-nerer heard any complaint for lack of bar
rels-thinks most of the wells in the prison had
means for drawing up water-the acquisitions for
guards seldom filled, and this was a source
OF troubleto Maj. Gee, who frequently complained
of it; but he had no control of the commander
of the troops, and could not force him to furnish
more than he saw fit. Most of the troops there,
officers and men, were very inefficient.
Witness stated the dntits of the officer of the
day; also gave description OF the prison sinks,
which accords substantially with former testi-
mony on those subjects Stated it was very diff
tcult to find officers who understood and would
perform their duties. The hospitals were sup
piled with straw whenever witness saw them
thinks there were no prisoners there but had
shelter of some sort-the burrows in the ground
were more comfortable in dry weather than tents
witness had burrowed partly in the ground
at one time the army of Virginia had no tents
could not get them. Maj. Morfitt informed wit
ness that there were 400 tents for the prisoners
they were Sibley, wall and common tents.
The tents were put up, after their arrival, as
fast as poles could be procured.
at the time Gen Winder came to Salisbury.
Maj Morfitt had some buildings framed and near
ly ready to put up for the prisoners, but Gen.
Winder stopped the work, saying the prisoners
would soon be removcd-these buildings were on
"A large scale; as large as the lumber would make
Maj Gee applied to the prison authorities at
Richmond for clothing for the prisoners, when it
was understood that the U. s. had sent clothing
to the South for prisoners of war, stating the
great destitution OF the prisoners at Salisbury in
this respect. The rations of the prisoners were
the same as those furnished the guards-eXcept
that the bread in the prison was better than that
Of the guards, because the former was better
baked.
When Gen. Gardner was at Salisbury he ordered
that small surplus oftle rations of the prisoner