New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-04-17
HORRORS OF SALISBURY.
Continuation OF the Gee Triai-Conciusive and
Damaging Eyideuee-Tesifp,ony OF Trib-
uue Observation-Disclosures and Cold
BIoodsd Murders by the RebeIs-The tiuard
Ordered 20 Shoot Coiored soidiers Wherever



From Or Speech, Correspondent.
RALEIGH n. C., Thursday Morning April - 1860.
The trial OF Major John IL. Gee Was resumed last Mon
day morning contrary general expectation, as it was
supposed here the Presidents Proclamation would cause
the discrimination Of tie commission.
THE ARGUMENT.
Col d. p Holland made an argument in behalf Of the
accused demanding that further proceedings be quashed
because the proclamation abogated law, on which
alone military commissions depended for their validity
and existence. He cited various authorities and al the
close Of his argument moved for adjournment, which
took place.
Tuesday morning Major Thomas I. Wocott, the Judge
Advocate replied 10 Col Holland, holding that the COM
mission had official evidence of tho proclamation and
that that instrument did not revoke President Lineons
Proclamation issued in September 1863, which revocation
was necessary the suspension Of martial law The Com
mission had much right and power, he claimed as
ever and the Court sustained him in his opinion.
Tho Court then proceeded with the examination Of the
two remaining witnesses Of the prosecution, the warcor
respondents who escaped with Mr. Albert d. Richardson
Of TIL TRIBUNE from Salisbury on the 18th OF Deem
Der, 1851
EVIDENCE OLA TRIBUNE CORRESPONDENT.
Junius Ilenn Browne sworn: Am journalist by pro.
fcssion was during the Rebellion correspondent OF
The NEw-YoRK TRIBUNE, and am resident Of that city
was captured May 1863 running the batteries OF vcks-
burg and remained prisoner until the period OF my
escape December IS 1854; was at Salisbury, n e.,
when the large number Of Union prisoners enlisted men
were sent there early in October 1861 prevous 70 that
time there 700 OF 500 prisoners in the place the en-
listed men, to the number Of ZOO 900 arrived there
between the jth and 18th Of October and were IN as good
physical condition the prisoners Of war had gen.
orally sien in the South they very poorly clad,
great many being without shoes coats or hats with
very few overcoats or blankets among them in essocia
ton with M Albert D. Richardson Of THI TRIBUNE aud
Mr. william f. Davis OF Tie Cincinnati Gazette, had
charge OF the hospitals where tho Union sick were.
CONDITION OF THE SICK.
Acted as assistant 10 OF tho Rebel surgeons for two
or three weeks and then visited the outside sick who
could not obtain admission 10 The hospitals Tor want
OF room therein the hospitals could not accommodate
more than 100 500 patients and tcro were ten times as
many the yard ia the tents and the holes they had
dug in the ground the outside sick were IN depressed
and deplorlbe conditions my opinion eoiroborated by
that Of the Rebel surgeons, that there MT 800
t-rV man o. ne trh0'e prison. OF the prisoners
were half insane nearly mbece shown by their having
no hope ambition expectation, no disposition 70 leave
their tents holes whore they were being poisoned by
the smoke Of Che green wood and iAe yiaod atmosphere
for the les, corrupt air outside te number o. deaths 10
he prison ~ ftf time oi y e'c0pe am yor TfeNs 6J0
n1D ar.Or1'e ami Hvsef e.m0fef ~ - per tt'fi We
too. North with ii- of the deaths, about 500, and
IL was affcrwarl pubs IN TN TRIBUNE the deaths
occtrr.l think between tho 18th of October there
about and tho 18Th of December, 1901 another ht was
taken North when the prisoner, were exchanged contain
ing believe. abogt the same number. and extending
over the PERIOD, some two months.
THR HOSPITALS.
The hospitals were only slch in uamc they were Ike
pig-pens bah no beds, blankets mattresses, with
single exception, and the patients either lay on the hooF
or on cruu-nfectod straw; tho hospitals were miseraby
ventilated, and filthy 90 the extremes patients admitted
ono dav usually carried 10 the dead-house the next
hardly any one obtained admission wnowas not Do adrilg
conditions the hospital for the Rebel convcts was every
wav superior being furnished with mattresses, and was
much ca4aer and less crowded the gam ont
s.I, al-l vcr comfortable COM cd 10 the hospitals
ia which tle Union soldiers were kept.
IHB ALLEGED OUTBREAK.
witnessed from distance wha' vas called the attempt
81 outbreak Che 2l OF November lobl about forty
OF fry of ts engaged On the affair so far
IA. could Judge. theT powered some fifteen sixteen
of tho Rebel guard who hai entered The yaIl 20 relieve
tH.a g. o did duty % the hospitals sclturls; during
tho sk,rn..l four hre. ! believe, were killed and
wounded on both sides number OF the prisoners ran
toward hc cote in The rear of TIE man-oulline nnd
m ieavor 90 orf hrf a' they bad no axes or nipple.
'lutsof any kd 90 efc. their purpose, tny abandoned
l,, attempt, tle guards oa tAr plup'i immediately
tlc uu hUng iulscI n.nai,Y! 90 iAe pnsoAeis A over
slr ur.lrf aud cs, Than minute the entire garu-
son wa OH ine parpct hiius their pieces rapidly
they could discharge and reload the melee was az an end
ia h,tmultss the hriuewas continued from - 10 30
stock ic worc discharged through the ilclosurci nc
gn8ri. OIL ~ nra rho h0f Ho Da,t fH he gbray, alto
t iaad.oi. ~ y4is dsff trOm He scelc II thc c3a-
Gl ami f-r dang mar afnosf 10 ttfs ncmsrcs in Hc
f.nt ant Dot. Pic grof ald fro.n nemr,frcs behind
e t-fiHe; 90 the hospitals struck with bullets
and the ly ut inv COMPANIONS and myself occupied
ts-ucs number of Times, a oi expecting 90 be hit
cannoi 'e, 90. my p.rsolm knoRlcde' how many men
were killed and wounded Goa tAe OCCASION but saw dead
killed aud wounded that afternoon.
WANToS >HoOTfNG.
Two week, later ihe guard iled upon the prisoners one
cold night ordering them 90 go 20 their quarters when
cv should have known many OF the men had mo- quarters
~ 20 to. tho firing continued az intervals through the
might, DO no, know AoU many men were killed
STATE or THE NCLOsURE.
Thor, was ro REGULAR police fo preserve order ANA clean
NO.. fo ,v fnoul.l.c after the enlisted men came 20
salisbury the iucl0sgTe was ia h0lTble state partially
with orue a. the prisoners were TOO slch TO 90
there the condition Of the grounds was enough TO breed
INSECURITY or LfFg.
Shooting bv the Rebel guard frequent that no
ono wondered a. d. none Of the prisoners with whom
talked-and had frequent CONVERSATIONS with them on
the subicctconsidcred has life from hour to hour az all
secure; cannot tell how many prisoners were killed and
wounded during my stay an salisbury; mover knew or
heard that any OF the guards who had shot prisoners
was repnmanded or removed from ms posi- they seemed
20 do Whatever they chose saw Moses Snlth, coloeu
soldier immediately after he was shot, he was ~ or 30
feet from the dead line no was Killed almost
instantly and | observed the Rebel youth who
killed him laughing on his post, and cody
reloadng his piece ne was not removed from ms posi-
Went into the main building when the chimney fell ana
the guard on the parapct not FIR from the entrance
Threatened u shoot me- bit did not feel disposed 20
give him time for that and darted into the doorway
heard musket discharged soon aiterward and learned
that two men were shots did not see them shot reIle-
her that the guard morning threatened TO shoot me-
and eyeled their pieces at three tunes IN hail an hor
though ausgressing any OF the established rules
OF the prison, nor was near the uthd Hhe heaiu wv
guards say they ordered To shoot prisoners when
they were IN a crowd or assembled togetheri do not
know personally the quantity Of Iaons given, but heard
the prisoners complain bitterly they SAID hey were oeh
~ h6urs without morsel to eat ana that sometimes
went without food for ~ hours
CROSS EXAMINED
Never heard Major Gee order the guards to shoot any
body SOME of the surgeons kind and attentive, and
others were not the kind ones, believed loyal
and had reason 10 believe so; Currey, the principal
goon was very kind and humane, apparently he held
religious exercises before the enlisted came but
paid little attention 20 those exercises feeling interest
in'then and cannot say II he prayed with dying