The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-03-07
EVENING SESSION.

EVENING SESSION.
The cross examination of j. L. Lyerly was con-
tinued
Many of the prisoners were sick when they
reached Salisbury-they were brought from Rich
mond-don't know whether from the field or from
the prison. When they reached Salisbury some
had no blankets, some had no coats, their clothes
were dirty, but some had shoes. Many of them
had holes in their pants they did notall have hats
or caps, but were generally in ragged destitute
condition.
Maj Mofitt did not come with the prisoners
from Richmond-he came two or three days be-
fore they did and left and then returned after
they had got there. He left against Maj Gees
permission. Maj Gee insisted that he should
stay and assist him, but he was dissatisfied with
the orders under which he was sent there.
Maj Mofitt told me of his dissatisfaction him
self
1t was the duty of the Quartermaster to provide
quarters, tents, &C., for the accommodation of
the prisoners 1t was his duty to have wells dug.
No one, that know of, gave Maj. Moffitt per-
mission to leave at the time spoken of-can't tell
who Maj. Mofiitt received his orders from. The
vegetables raised in the garden at headquarters
were used for the hospital for the guard-don't
know whether any were given to the sick priso-
ners of war. The arrangements for cooking for
prisoners were three bakeries and nine large ket-
ties, each holding about eighty gallons. Gener-
ally the bread was of wheat -four, baked in loaves;
part of the time meal was mixed with the flour
Don't know how often the kettles were filled in
cooking one mcal-the scarcity of flour was the
reason that meal was mixed with it-dont know
of Maj. Gees trying to purchase straw for the
priSoners-the prisoners went out in squads to
gather leaves-they went out under guard by or
der of the officer of the day,-I don't know that
this was general thing, saw them out gather
ing two or three times.
Q. Did not Maj Gee make the best disposition
he could of the provisions furnished for the pris
oners' use?
[Objected to and withdrawn
@. What disposition was made of the provisions
furnished to the prison?
A. The rations furnished were distributed
among the prisoners s-when they got nothing but
soup it was because flour could not be got.
Q. When the prisoners suffered for want ofpro
visions what was the Gauss
A. Because there was no provisions at the
PRISON CoMlnlssary 10 give tneni
The prison Commissary got provisions from
the post Commssary twice week, once for3
and once for 4 days.-Don't know how the rcqui-
sitons for rations for the guard was made out
and signed, whether in blank form or not. Don't
know whether there was scarcity of food among
the troops on guard-don'tknow as to fuel, either
The guard had tents, no other shelter-Thc
troops had tents and cabins-there was large
house for the gusrds to go in when they came off
duty-this house was erected shortly after the
prisoners arrived there think, about the latter
part of October, but 1 may be mistaken-don't
reeollect whether it was before or after Gen.
Johnston came to Salisbury.-Don't know of
Maj Gee requesting any officer to apply for cloth
ing for The prisoners-don't know of the Quarter
Master making hunks for the prison hospitals
DIRECT EXAMINATION RESUMED.
Don't know under whose orders the police SER
geant acted-the paroled men worked. some at
different shoe shops in town, and about 80
for Maj. Mofflt-don't know who had the benefit
of their work-those who worked for Maj. Mof
fit were working for the government-some OF
them who worked in town got blankets and ra-
tions-dont know what officer was with Major
prisoners, tsome political prisoners and some
prisoners Of war-There was good supply of
wood for cooking and well inside the cook
house and when it failed they brought water from
the creek-don't know whether the cooking was
properly performed.
DY THE COURT
Maj. Gee had a sergeant detailed to see that the
rations were not stolen before they reached the
prison; at the prison they went into the hands of
a citizen who had charge of the cook house
don't recollect whether there was ever more soup
issued in one day than could be cooked in the
kettles at one time--thc kettles we're kept cook
ing all day; when one was emptied it was again
illed-the prisoners generally had as much of this
soup as they wanted the rations were distribu
ted to sergeants of squads-the bread was so dis
tributed-the orders were, they should have as
much soup as they wanted-don't know how
much soup was issued per day-dont know the
quantity of meat ssued-when made out the
number of prisoners don't know how much was
issued to them per MANA full ration for pris
oncr of war is Il pound meat, about pound of
-four and some rice-don know how much rice
the prisoners sometimes complained Of hunger
| duu tlllISb-l hioW tiiut tuC pIiSohCio ONCi
received full prison rations-they complained of
want of water because it Is likely that the squads
allowed to 60 after water could not bring water
enough.
The witness was ordered to withdraw, and the
defense offered letter. which he desired to in
troduce as part of the evidence. After some
debate on the subject, the witness was recalled.
@ Did you address letter to Col. Holland, in
regard to matters connected with this trial?
A. did. h
O. Did yen write in that letter that MAJ Gee,
while at Salisbury, had no control of the Quar-
tetmaster, Coinmissary or Medical Department?
A. l so wrote. l wrote it ON wnat i heard Maj.
Gee and th Quartermaster say
1.-THE letter states that Maj. Gee, while at Sails
bury deplored the condition of the prisoners, bat
declared that he was powerless to prevent it, as
he had no control of the Quarternaster, Commits
sary, or Medical Department. The witness ex-
planned, that he had not slated the same things on
his examination bec,use he understood that, by
the ruling of the Court, he was not to make any
statement of things he heard Maj. Gee or the