The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-04-25
which fired before the order to cease could reach

MAJ zee constantly wore, at the prison, blue
pants, confederate gray jacket cap with oil cloth
cover, and either boots or shoes-neyer wore any
gold lace nor cape, nor slouched hat, nor hat of
any kind. There was recruiting officer there,
belonging to Gen. Yorl's staff, who wore cloak
or cape and hat. This officer was there in
December, 1864, January and February, 1866
might have been there in November, 1864. Maj.
Gee never wore sabre there-he had none
never saw one in his office-Gee told him he had
lest his sabre coming from Richmond.
There was no discrimination against negroes in
the prison-all prisoners were treated alike. Maj.
Gees department to prisoners was always kind
and courteous-saw him salute Gen. Hays respect
fully. His labors were very laborious and he ex-
crted himself to provide for the prisoners-was
constantly on duty-never saw him in town ex-
ccpt on official business to the quartermaster or
commissary-ho was on duty constantly, day and
night.
Court adjourned to 10 O clock Monday morning
MONDAY, APRIL %, 1866.
After the reading of the journal, the direct ex-
animation of Capt. Jno. A. Fuqua was resumed.
Maj. Gee had no choice of the guard, but had to
take such as were detailed to him, except some
: from Frecman's battalion, who were detailed as
officers for the prison. He found it difficult to
have the guard perform their duty properly
don't know as to Maj. Gees control over the sur
geons, he could not change nor remove them
the policing of the prison was under charge of
the officer of the day. Maj. Gee had no control
over the quartermaster or commissary-MajOr
Morftt denied his having control over him-he
and Mai Gee had some trouble about wood, but
don't know what the decision at Richmond was
in regard to it. Morftt went away from Salisbury
TO Danvie or to Richmond without asking leave
Of Maj Gee
The centre of the prison yard was rocky, as if
it had been Macadamzcd. Maj. Gee reported to
Richmond that if Hntons regiment and Capt
Snead's company were taken away from Sails
bury, the prisoners could not be kept in, Or ould
not be safe-tlreir removal nccessitated decrease
in the number Of scntinels. Witness thinks there
were 800 or 80 men recruited out of the pri-
son-Maj. Gee opposed this recruiting, and at one
time refused to allow Col. Tucker, who had
commission 10 recruit at some other prisons, to
enter this prison for that purpose. Never saw a
placard under Maj. Gees name posted in the
prison. and does not believe there ever was one
thinks if there had been he would have known
1.-THE recruits were foreigners-no Americans
were allowed to be recruited. The rule in allow
ing prisoners TO go outside was to parole them
never knew an exception. 1t was an easy matter
to escape under the palisade of the prison. if
prisoners could get to it-they could scratch out
with their hands in few minutes, in many parts
of it.
At the time the officers were sent away, it was
from apprehension of an attemptto escape. This
apprehension was based on the fact that they had
been seen throwing slips of paper across the line
to tine mcn-witness saw one of these papers; it
stated that certain signal would be given, and
the mon must then rally under the sergeants of
divisions and come over to the officers, who would
lead them. Maj. Gee reported these facts to
Richmond and an order came for the removal of
tic officers to Danvilc, but when the order arriv-
ed they were about starting
Gen. Winder was at the prison soon after the
outbreak and said to the prisoners in presence Of
witness that half ofthem ought to have beenkilled
and in case of such another attempt, not one of
them should be left alive. Maj. Gee formed a
very unfavorable opinion of Gen. Winder.
Prisoners were not allowed to make purchases
from citizens, but officers having charge Of them
might purchase for them-these we're the orders
had seen prisoners bring in provisions thus pur-
chased-this order to prevent any person out
side from having communication with the prison
ers-this was the order from Richmond as witness
gathered from paper that had been sent TO
Richmond by lawyer for one of the prisoners,
which was returned by Gen. Gardner with an
endorsement by him enquiring how it was that a
lawyer had been allowed to have communication
with prisoner.
The sentnels had orders to fire on crowds
gathered near the dead lines, when ordered to
dispense and refusing to do so-this was necessary
on account of the frail condition of the palisade-
means by crowd" 500 or 600 men, not % or 80
or hundred-there were abundant evidences OF
prisoners having escaped under the palisade, and
their frequent occurrence made it necessary to
lace Il line OF sentinels on the ground outside
the palislde.
Witness stated that Maj. Gee had no power or
authority TO give Through to the lad that shot
Lieut.. Davis Cannot say now many struggling
shots were fred after the main firing had ceased,
at the time of the outbreak-thinks not more than
half Il doZen-did not any firing. Gee and
Morfitt did not get along well togcther-Maj. Gee
complained of Moritt's neutrality-suspicious.
to me- in conversation-dont know that he re-
ported him to Richmond.
There was garden al the prison-the vegeta-
bes were divided between Maj. Gee and the hos
pital surgcons-don't know what hospitals they
were used for.
CROSS EXAMINED.
Witness was at Salisbury from the Sd March,
1S64-was appointed there by the war depart
ment-the same authority that appointed Major
Gee Before the arrival of the large number OF
prisoners, had never known persons refused per-
mission TO give prisoners provisions, nor after
ward, neither.
The rations to prisoners were l pound -four l
pound beef or q pound bacon per day-thinks
they generally got this amount-witness knows
of no pies or other food being taken from prison
ers-there was no order to such an effect-if there
was such an order witness would have known it.
Some few Of the recruited prisoners were re-
turned on its being discovered that they were
Americans--the recruits were offered Il bounty Of
S50-thnks there was nothing else offered-was
often present when the recruiting was gong on
heard no other offered.
Witness repeated his statement in regard to
water-thinks there was enough for drinking and
cooking but not for washing Maj. Gee had fire.
| quently to complain that his acquisitions were
not filed-there were times " hen his acquisitions
for rations were not filed because the commits
sary did not have them
Witness made some further statements in re-
gard to shelters, and gave his views in regard to
Maj. Gees responsibilities in certain supposed