The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-04-25
SATURDAY. APRIL q. 1856

SATURDAY, APRIL p, 1866.
After the reading of the journal, Capt Jno. A.
Fuuua was recalled to the stand, and the direct
examination resumed.
In relation 10 the killing of Lieut. Davis, wit
ness repeated substantially the statement of yes
terday-sentry who shot him told witness that he
was at the tree, and prisoners said same thing
witness saw signs of deceased having been there
don't recollcct that sentinel stated he had hailed
Davis-witness was sure the tree at which Lieut..
Davis was shot was between the dead line and the
fcncc-don't think there was ground to punish
the sentry, as deceased had crossed the line
witness reported the case to Maj Gee substantial
" as lie has stated it here-asked to have the
sentinel removed and gave the reasons for it, and
Mai. Gee had him removed. Witness thinks his
own life was in great danger at the time he started
to approach the tree to look for the lost pin
never saw the sentinel but on that occasion.
Mai. Gee rendered his resignation at Salisbury,
and wrote Gen. Gardner to assist in getting it
through, giving his reasons, the ineficicncy of
the guard, the want of provisions, lumber, DC,
to make the prisoners comfortable; that Ills bust
ness at home required his attention, and that he
was exempt by age and by his profession from
military service. The reply was that his position
would be made easier, and his resignation was not
accepted.
Mai. Gee endeavored to induce Col. Hinton, in
command of the 6Sth regiment, to encamp around
the prison, but he refused-his Major, in his alb
sence, commenced pitching his camp around the
nf rIn hmm
back to their former camp. Hinton was ordered
by the authorities at Richmond, at Maj. Gees
solicitation, to encamp around the prison, but he
refused, on the ground that his regiment were
State troops and not subject to the control of the
Confederate authorities Col. Hinton afterward
moved his camp beyond the creek, Il mile or more
from the prison. On the day Of the outbreak
Hinton ha1 his regiment and one company OF
Freeman's battalion, which he had taken the au-
thority to annex to his regiment, ready to start
from Salisbury. This was Capt. Snead's company,
the best in the battalion, and the one from which
most of the prison officials were selected, and
they had all been withdrawn on the day of the
outbreak, to go with their company
The outbreak occurred about 2 or 8 o'clock
witness was in Maj. Gees o1icc-heard great yell
ling and rapid firing of musketry-rushed out to-
ward the prison and realized at once that the
prisoners were endeavoring to escape-saw a
shower of stones and brickbats flying over the
walls-reached the gate and saw the guard rush
ing out, some eight or ten were wounded and two
or three soon fell and died-the Fentinels en- the
front wall were lodging the missiles and loading
and firing as fast as they could-witness called
the guard to turn out, but they seemed not to
understand what they were to do and did not
move-at length rallied about dozen who went
with him on the parapet-about this time one of
the pieces of artillery was fired, followed imme-
diatrly by the other-at this the prisoners began
10 scatter from the gate, where there were some
l. 800 or 1000, and go into their tents and burrows
witness seeing this ordered the firing to cease,
went IT, the gun at the southeast angle and stop
ped it from being fired and sent messenger to
the other gun to order that to cease also-that
gun fired once more-thinks before the messenger
had time to reach it.
About this time the citizens old men and boys,
came up, and witness had great difficulty in pre-
venting them from shooting the prisoners-they
appeared very anxious to fire on them. There
were but two guns mounted at the prison at that
time-the first shot fired Oh this occasion was
solid and passed entirely over the prison and fell
in gentleman's lot in town.
Witness could not see the water gate from
where he was at the time, but heard that crowd
of prisoners was there-saw Maj. Gee when he
first went out, hurriedly buckling on his pistol
belt-dd not see him afterward till the firing Lad
ceased, when he met him On the parapet and the,
walked round together to stop the firing and tc
restore quiet.
A number of the guard made stand at tho
gate, and got hold of some picks and shovels ly
ing there, with which they kept the prisoners Al
bay and prevented them from going out. There
were Is or 20 of the guard inside who were dis
armed by the prisoners-some of the arms were
recovered afterwards, others were thrown in the
wcls-thcre was firing inside the prison-can't
tell to what extent-saw one of the guard neal
the gate wounded with musket ball. Witnes:
does not think the main firing lasted more than
minute and half-there was some scattering
firing afterward, after the order to cease firing
mad been given. This occurrence was asubiect O
regret to all the city officials-in conversation
with witness, Maj. Gee expressed much regret
that it had occurred, and that they had beer
obliged to fire on the prisoners-knows that Mai
Gee used every effort to stop the firing and to
prevent the citizens from firing after they arrived
and this he did from policy as well as humanity
for if the firing had been kept up the prisoner.
would certainly have renewed their efforts and
succeeded in escaping.
This outbreak, as reported by prisoners, was
commenced at the instigation of certain non
commissioned officers among them, sergeants o
divisions. Two of these were reported to Maj
Gee by the prisoners, and he had them brough
out-the citizens and soldiers were clamcrous tt
have them hung, but Maj. Gee prevented it, ant
sent them to Richmond-but for Maj. Gees eff
forts, they would have been hung-they were no
punished otherwise than by close confinement
Witness stated, official there, that upon Is,
occasion of this outbreak there was no more firing
on the prisoners than the exgency of the occasion
required, except the last discharge of the cannon