New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1866-03-07
THE HORRORS OF SALISBURY
THE GEE TRIAL.
Testimony of ]. L. Lyerly and NJ C. Davis
Fourth and Fifth Days Proceedings.
From Our Special Correspondent


SLOWLY the Military Commission usually occupying
dov 70 n dav and half with each witness The third
witness is now on the stand, and forty or fifty
are to be examined for the prosecution and at least 100
for the defense IN estimate may easily be made of the
probable duration of the case.
The greatest danger to the prisoner, from present
indications is that he will die Of old age before be Is
released from custody.
Testing aside. believe the Court will be in session
for the next three months particularly as the counsei
for the defense are likely TO ask for an adjournment
after the testimony for the prosecution is closed tha'
they nav hare time to obtain their witnesses scattered
,bev eece throughou, the country. and difficult to
reach The defense it is understood, VIII mainly NJ
tempt TO prove the good character Of Gee before ne as
suued command at Salisbury. most OF their witnesses
beinr summoned from Florida. the native or adopted
State of the accused Two or three weeks VII no
doubt suffice to eci, tho main POINTS in the evidence
and what is to follow will be for the most pari rePe
ton of the testimony previously given.
LYERLY's TESTIMONY CONTINUED
YESTERDAY morning j. l.. LyeTly was recalled anu
the direct examination resumed. ooo. ,ro.
Freeman'S battalion. comprising epoul 'Ul t4oIi "
entirely u1er the command of Major Gee Tor poIton
Of the time; don't know when the battalion was ian
ferred 10 his command-sOmetime previous 10 ovn,
BRADLEY T. Johnstons arrivals he came there III .ue
latter part of lsGl am not certain OF ue uttr' 'ns
prisoners when they came were IN pau eo.ul, @
was il good when they eit all those VINO "ere no' o
the SICK list could walk when they left about 21Oo
could walk, think. ,,.. Ir ,bo
In regard to furnishing lumber FOR shelter for we
prisonefs from my Wedge OF the resources o. the
country for lumber. the obstacles were Inc luinper
could not be sawed because everything was stopped
hy all the men being in the army; the Tour 81" lli
OF the n c. X. l. could have turned out eOVu leet VI
lumber per day if properly attended: L don't know
how much lumber would have been required 10
shelter prisoners; don't know as to these MUS running
during The war except the one now oWni uoh
tnov how much If was run during the war; II all had
run they could have cut lumber enough to make seel
ers but / don't know the facilities lor iihlspo'uhS
umber though the mills were on the railroads, anu
trains ran regularly; this was the same ROAD mat
brought wood to the prison; the WOOD tram fan ea!
! Cross examined-l served under OIoDs Msho!,
Alex. Gilmer. Galloway and Fuqua prior to MAJOR
Gees coming TO SaisbuTy don't Know VINO Lau CON,
mnud of the prison. further than MAYOR uee fepotcu
10 Gen. Gardner; weekly report was e.t ia. n. 40
Richmond Va. q portion of the tmei stH'eu wv
number present number died. nunDer SICK. IN the
hosnita and the other different classes OF prisoners
o,o Major Gee told me lie had sent for an Inspector 10
nspect the prison; but 90 not know that lie caled Inc
attention of the Richmond authorities to the prison OF
that he advised or urged Improvement W us couo
! Gen Gardner was al the Prison WINE; uoh Ieoo
ect whether il was before the prisoners came IN Oc'o
| her or not NJ Tor Gee was IN command then, put
don't recolect the month; IN Inspector ron hlcn
mond visited the prisol-a MAJOR rage; uent icco'
ect the time but il WAS while the prisoners Of war were
there Major Gee there also TO the beet OF my rec
objection; Captain Rutherford inspected the prison
but am not able TO say whether MAJOR tree was III Co
mand or not; MaiOr Gee did not have cOnfol OF lhe
four snw.mls have spoken about Major Myers was
postcommisOnary and issued the rations to the prs
oners; Motor Gee sent requisiton TO postcomnssat!
showing number OF prisoners entitled 10 ralons WIN
ont stating what of raiions because he dldt Know
ratons were drawn twice week, once Tor thrce DAYS
and once for four what rat ons the sergeant eou gel
brought 10 the prison. they delivered 10 the COOK
nj the cook ns de the PRISON. Major Gee was no.
tilted by the telegram Of the arrival OF prisoners some
times day before and sometimes Two DAYS neiors'
saw some Of them they were sent from Eichihohui
do nj recoect no signed them; before the prisoners
came in October there were two wells IN the PRISON
Major Gee had details working day ana nghl py can
die LIGHT digging wells for the prisoners Wheh ne
heard thew were coming and when they arrived ne
had hands digging before stated; there were no
tents 10 be had at Salisbury when prisoners came there
nor axes nor spades nartermaser stores 10 Issue
10 prisoners: do nj know what amount OF comm!sssry
stores were there to supply prisoners When MAJOR zee
learned they were coming dont Know Wne'neI tneIe
was enough for one day. nor do know what arrange
ments were made by authorities al kichmOhu or o!
Major Gees su2eIors for the supply of prisoners before
they arrived.
RATIOys OF THE PRISONERS.
Major Gee made efforts to provide raions for them;
he sent TO convey orders to hurry up the raloDs
lie said except be could get rations he could not Keep
the prisoners from breaking out; he complained 10
Major Moft Q. NJ. Of prisoners about the wood for
prisoners and also about tentsand asked him to hurry
up and get tents; had heard Major Gee talk to me
officer OF the day about water. and tell HIM to let
the squads GO to the creek he seized upon some
wood and took 1t to the prison-dont know whether
for prisoners or guard Major Mofht threatened
10 prefer charges against him next morning, say
ing that Major Gee had right to seize the wood
while at the prison. Maj Gee was in delicate health
not al the prison at night and don't Know whether
ke worked al night for the welfare OF The prisoners or
not; he confined himself to bib dues-was never alb.
sent from his post except few minutes at time that
know Of; think lie was diigen IN the discharge OF
his duties; tho same ratons were given TO coByicts
and prisoners OF and political prisoners; Major
Gee uniformly spoke kindly and courteOusy to prisoners
OF war; have him lend them newspapers TO read
DO not recocct hearing him say that tie nights OF
prisoners of sacred and must be respected;
have heard him speak very kindly OF them. but don't
recoIeet the exact language used; never heard him
speak uDkindy TO them except when they misbebhved
he would reprimand them; 4 do not rec0lect
his ordering double ratOns to be issued TO re-
captured prisoners, before returning them TO prison.
have heard Major Gee give orders 10 fire upon
squads of prisoners but was hailed from the parape
aud told by the guards that they would fire, when the
squads formed In the yard; Major Gee paroed some Is
twenty Of the prisoners 70 work at their trades In
the town: suppose there were so in all par0ed as
Major Mofftt had about 80 all the working parties and
police were composed Of prisoners and had orders for
double ratons but don't know that they got it these
working parties and police were volunteers. cant tell
whether Major Gee had supplies or that be could fur
nish the prisoners anything beside what he got from
the quatermaster or commissary there was nothing at
the prson and he frequently made acquisitions and got
nothing; when raons were scarce he frequently sent
notes TO the different officers urging them 10 send sup
plies in haste. that the prisoners In great need;
do not know that these notes were answered.; he
showed special anxiety TO have these notes reach
the officers to whom they were sent; know this
by his ordering me TO that they were delivered;
have heard Major Gee comp ain of the scanty supply
of ratons furnished the prisoners during the time he
was in commando / heard him thus complaining fire..
quenty during that time many OF the prisoners
sick when they reached Salisbury; they were brought
from Richmond don't know whether from the field or
from the PRISON. when they reached Salisbury some
had no blankets some had coats, their clothes
dirty. but some had shoes many Of them had holes in
their pants they did not all have hats caps but wero
generally In ragged destitute condition.; Major
Moht did not come with the prisoners from Richmond
he came two or three days before they did and left
and then returned after they had got there he left
against Major Gees permission; Major Gee insisted
that he should stay and assist him, he dis.
satshed with The orders under which ha there