The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-03-07
ers. Isuppose it was at the time they were suf-
-fering from hunger.
CROSS EXAMINED.

-fering from hunger.
CROSS EXAMINED.
The orders concerning the prisoners were alike
applicable to the different classes-the order was
general, as understood it, not to allow commu-
nication between the citizens and the prisoners,
convicts, political prisoners, and prisoners of
war. The political prisoners were citizens of
different Southern States, imprisoned IN charges
of disloyaltyt to the Confederacy. Idon't remem-
Der that ever got orders from Maj Gee not to
s let persons give provisions to the prisoners of
war. There was suffers store inside the prison.
1t was kept by two different men-the first do
not remember; the last was named Tabb-don't
know whether he paid tax. Brig. Gen. Gardner
was at the prison-don't remember the date; it
was, however, some time after the break-out
among the prisoners. Can't give any idea of the
time. Don't know the exact number of wells in
the prison-there were six, think
All l know of Maj. Gees trying to provide for
the comforts of the prisoners was whathe said to
me. knew of no real acts, because I did not
know his business
At the time I saw the dead body of Lieut. Da-
Wis, l do not know that Maj. Gee was present at
the prison. was not at his quarters-there was
nothing that know of to lead me to think he
was sick. If the squads dispersed when ordered,
they could not handily go any where else than to
their squa ter, as the grounds were small.
@. Was not the object of the order merely to
see that the prisoners dispersed without regard to
their going to their quarters?
1.-The question was objected to because it mere
ly asked for an opinion Of the witness and the OBJ
lection was sustained.
Q. Did the order go further than to disperse
these squads
A. My orders were to order them three times
to disperse or go to their quarters, and then, if
they did not, to fire on them. There was no par
ticular number designated in the order, it was
left to the discretion OF the guard if he thought
the squads so large as to be likely to break out,
he was to disperse them-don't think the stock
G.ae could be broken down by large number of
men merely running against it,
@. Were the cannon so mounted as that men
could have gone out where the cannon were
mounted?
[Objected to, on the ground that this asked
merely the opinion of the witness, and brought
out new matter.
The defense contendcd that the question was
relevant to the direct examination, and necessary
in order to enable the Court to form a correct
opinion in regard to the danger of prisoners es-
Gaping; objection sustained.
A. The cannon were three mounted on COM
mon wheels, on common artillery wagons. wit
ness pointed out the position on the diagram
Two of them were on the ground. At the first
the boards of the stockade were knocked off for
the space offour feet; the second mounted in the
same way-the third was on the parapet about
eight feet from the ground The ground here was
lower than at the other part The third gun was
mounted after Gen Bradley T. Johnston came
Incver found it necessary to fire on these groups
myself-nevcr saw them fired on for refusing to
disperse.
Q. Describe this stockade.
A. There were strong post oak posts put two
or three feet in the ground, eight feet apart-six
to eight inches square-about eight feet above
ground-thcse were connected by three raiings
of scantiing, one at the bottom, one in the mid
die, and one at the top-these were about 3 by
inches, spiked to the posts-boarded on tee in.
side with inch pine boards or 10 feet high
there was platform round this about 8 feet from
tuO uUOut lScJ Wluc-lUe SlOckuQc ndQ
no support from outside except the frame of the
platform-there was a ditch inside six feet from
the stockade, some six feet deep in places, the
dirt from which was thrown inside the prison
grounds from the ditch.
The order to disperse prisoners when assem-
bled in squads was given after the outbreak
prisoners could not have gone out of the inner
stockade through the cook house or bakery,
without going through a gate. Prisoners did
escape from the prison, perhaps two week On
an average-the highest number 1 remember es-
Gaping at one time was five. There was tunneling
going on at the prison-there were several tun-
nels at different times started from the tents and
other places, us if men were working their way
out-there were about six of these altogether
There were times when the guard on duty were
scarce of fuel, can't tell how often this was the
case; occasionally we would be there a night
without wood, and, perhaps, next night have
plenty-the weather was sometimes cool and
sometimes rainy, when we were without wood;
it was in winter when the weather is generally
cold. The prisoners had, besides what tents the
Government furnished, flies stretched poles,
a couple of feet from the ground; dirt novels
three feet high, made Of sticks of wood and dirt
put on them; Others dug burrows in the ground
with frepaees to them, with ilues lea' ing to the
top of the ground to let out the smoke. These
were all the shelters knew Of
@. Were not those burrows as comfortable in
winter weather as common tents :?
A. don't know never lived in one of them.
don't know whose duty it was to provide shell
ter for these prisoners of war.
know that Maj. Gee complained to the Quar-
termaster about WOOD and told him the wagons
were not doing what they ought, and wished him
to make arrangements with some one round there,
so that he could detail men to go and cut wood
for the prison. The Quartermaster said if the de-
tail was made he had place where the wood could
be cut, andI afterward did cutit there The men
for the detail were from Col. Hoke's command
The commander of my battalion Maj Freeman
told me was wanted at Maj. Gees Office, and on
going there, Lieut.. Stockton told me was de-
tailed to go with men to cut wood, and must re-
port to Capt. Goodman for instructions
The Senior commander at the time the federal
prisoners were there, were first Colonel Hinton !:
he was relieved by Col. Hoke-then Gen. John
ston came and assumed the commando don't
know how Maj. Gee got details of troops. Lieut.
Stockton told me was detailed to take charge of
the squad to cut wood-I don't know that he had
power to detail troops. have heard the political
prisoners complain OF hunger, know of no or.
ders to impress food for the prison-iiai. Gee
signed the ration returns for my company while
we were detailed under him-these ration retur,:
were blanks and were filled out by the Cartsin
for SO much bacon, SO much flour, rit or o.be
things and then taken to1AIai Gee a. L.. -.