New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1866-03-09
THE HORRORS OF SALISBURY.
THE GEE TRIAL.
Seventh and Eighth Dnys' Proceedings
TESTIMONY or ONE or THE PRISON SURGEONS
AND A REBEL CoLoYEL-Gov. VANCE ON TIE

The trial of Major John II. Gee, it is esti-
mated Will cost the Government at least $4,000 before
Il is at end.
The only way know in which the United States can
reimburse itself TO inform the witnesses after their
arrival here that they must remain 10 the termination
Of the case OF pay certain for the privilege OF
being discharged So dun and desoate is Raleigh-the
Dead Sea in its deadest period is rushing torrent
compared 70 the North Carolina Capital-lhat leei
convinced the Witnesses win render themselves banK'
rupt and mortgage their sous to raise money TO ree
themselves from the necessity Of remaining here until
that time.
II sufficient number Of persons can be summoned TO
produce testimony, doubt tie National Debt can
very soon be quidated by their generous
and submit the plan TO the Secretary Of the Treasury
as the most feasible that has yet been proposed for that
purpose.
TESTIMONY OF AN OFFICER OF TIE GARRISON:
The first witness called yesterday evening was Coi.
John +. Hoke. His testimony was as follows;
lam IS wears old; reside in Lneolnton, y. C.. was
in the Confederate service; Colonel ofthe lth Reg
iment Reserves and was stationed at Salisbury in 1864
went there about the 10Th Of October and renamed
there until the prisoners left the troops there WIeh
went Freemans Battalion, 800 and the oeth reg
lmeDt about the same III nunper ana NY own
$50: commanded the troops there awhile; Co. hhtoh
relieved me about SIX weeks; tien iesuheu anu .ol
timed until Gen. Johnston arrived, about the ISL OF
January 1865; Major Gee was commanding oihcer OF
the post while there, but think Gen johnston
commanded the post when be came; con hnO" tA'
actly how il was in regard 10 ny relieving MAJOR Gee
when went; il my duty as commanding Oncer 10
furnish guards for the prison nothing more that was an
did the guard furnished requison OF MaIofGee
there was no limit that know Of 10 the number oil the
suard except what limit put upon II; Major Gee re-
eeiyed orders from Gen. Gardner he reported 10 DIN
part of the time at least; Major Gee not subject
think TO any Of the officers OF the los-not "me
in command there; there were about OOO PRISON
ers at Salisbury when i went there's they had all or
rived Uh I there:
rome time in February when they were sent away
they taken to Greensboro; guarded ihoSe tnat
could march TO Greensboro think started with over
1000 got TO Greensboro with LOCO but the rest az
rived soon after; there were good portion VINO seemed
70 be vigorous but they failed many OF them on the
way; left 800 at Lexngton tbe third day eit about
500; left about eco in all on the way there were
number Of sick left to come on the trains who were un
able 10 march; don't know how many; saw Gen
Gardner at the prison while the prisoners were there
have no idea at what timei he was there when re-
turned from Greensboro; he bad been there before
left but don't know how long.
Cyosse1amiusd-The first acquisitions rom MAJ.
Gee for 400 which number furnished for some
time; then cut the detail down TO go; don't pretend
70 be very accurate about that was compelled TO cut
down the detail on account Of the scarcity OF men had
there; the Quarermaster stores OF tie posi-
scarce while was there; be bad no axes, tents COOK
ing utensils had no money; don't think ever went 10
him for ANYTHING that be did have be lad teams, but
they were badly managed toward the latter part Of the
time his teams got SO poor he let me have one fat
tened the team and think he took that back; Capt
Goodman sat up late and got up late and his men did
made / burned coal for him. cut s.wOod too don
know the number of teams he had; his teams were
Kept hauling Commssary stores; he sometimes
pressed wagons for Government usei / think be Lad
about six for post service and six or eight running Tor
the CommissaIy; subsistence stores can only speak
OF from what I had and what got; the Commissary
had sent off large amount just before the prisoners
arrived and from that time out he had to rely upon the
running stock he had TO gather 1t ID as be could be
procured his supplies from Csbarrus and Rowan, and
believe from lreden DAVE SuTTy and 4 adkin; don't
think he ever got much from Surry and Yadkn he
from n
Catawba COuniy-thst 10 all know Of; know that
some supplies were taken 20 Lees army before the pms
eners arrived, from the Commissarys telling me So
there none taken from there after got there
the supplies in the country around to draw from were
short. in Catawba CabaTrus Rowan. Lincoln indeed
In that whole section, the corn ana wheat crops
were short don't know whether the people suffered
In that section Of the country OF not tbe means OF
Transportation in conveying supplies for lredeD por.
tions Of Rowan Meeklenburg, and CabarIus were the
railroad lines running through them; Lenoir and I'D
Kin Law of the railroad; the hes were mostly gathered
nj points the railroads in the counties that have
mentioned; can give 10 estimate Of the amount OF
tthes collected in that country think the uthes were
generally collected. there were impressng agents
beside the 1.-THE collectors subsistence was furnished
the prisoners by Major Myers Commisssry OF the POST
Myers received his orders from two persons
either the commanding officer at Richmond. OF the
Csmmssary for the State he was subordinate officer.
and accounted 10 one the other; ] don't know
what Major Mverss orders were IN regard TO bis
duties; don't know anything OF Major Gees ef'
forts 10 provide provisions; i know be tired TO
ret lumber TO pr0vlde shetefsi the nIst thbg Old
when went there, was 10 get shelter for the guards
he showed requisiton for 100000 feet OF lumber on
the Oartermaster of Post, Capt. Goodman and his
reply; went 10 Goodman he showed NE the requsi'
ton Gee had made; pressed the thing until about the
LIST Of January, before l got the lumber; Major Gee
frequently wrote him the subject; Major Gee was
persistent; he wrote at least once week, and some
times oener this lumber for the prisoners. and
was TO have part TO shelter the guard when the lumber
came got till after Winders order about Christ
mas TO stop the buildings foI the prisoners the reason
that the lumber ordered for the prisoners and
couldn't get 1t; bu. after Vinders order got some;
the lumber came short time before Christmas and
Motif had prisoners at work IT detailed men 90
ND the road and saw lumber.
The Fuel-As to fuel Major Gee had 10 draw that
through the Quartermaster Of the post, and to my
knowledge Major Gee asked me for sQusd to guard
the prisoners to chop wood; We agreed to send the
prisoners back and detailed about 90 men TO cut wood
10 furnish the prisoners and for myself also but never
got any; this was a temporary arrangement; Goodman
was TO hire slaves, but did MT do it, and my men
tinued TO cut and load trains until short time be-
fore the prisoners ef the first load Of the two in
the day always taken 10 the prisoners the second
was thrown off at the depot be made the second trips
always had detail OF prisoners 10 load and unload
the cars; these always got double rations-that IL,
double what those inside got: heard that the prison
1t; the wood cut belonged to the Quartermaser Of
the post and delivered 10 the Quarterma
of the prison. who took charge Of it, the prisoners
were allowed barrack rations Of wood and the guard
s,ioved tho same which lie about the same az that al
lowed by the United States Regulations that what
understand; did not think this allowance was enough
situated the prisoners were attempted to get more
than allowed one night IN December
TESTIMONY OF PRISON SURGEON.
DR.. W. H. Howertop swOrn-I am IS years Of age
and live in Salisbury; was on duty as surgeon IN the
Salisbury prison in 1854 went there in October, and
wa relieved some time February or March, lees;
was there as contract surgeon; there were 5000 or
10000 prisoners who came in October and left about
the last Of January or in Fetruaryi when they came