The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-04-24
[Br OUR Own SPECIAL EEPoRTER.l
Trial OF Major John Z. Gee.

FRIDAY, April. 20, 1856.
The Journal OF Thursday was read.
The direct examination OF Capt. John A FUqua,
for the defense, resumed.
After the arrival OF The prisoners of war, some
of them employed cooks-thiniis there
but Two Vi tarte days notice OF the prisoners
cUmiEg-tLc preparations for them were very i'll
cOmplete-I!c ia.i,Ade pat UP after their
arrival. Gen. Gardner there just before. fi.l
prisoners caInc-the grounds were enlarged and
wells dag fast Tie means IL land iilvTdc,-
Gee Iaade reqdisition on Goodman for lumber,
but did not get it. as Goodman did not have it,,
Dut got III Il tew days forthe IalisaGe. Maj
G2c teegrapAed TO Richmond, urging against
sending prisoners OF to Salisbury, because OF
the unsuitabieness of the place aud the want OF
provisions, water wood. ana nc!.er-the only
reply the continued arrival OF prisoners.
Witness examined two places on the Nad,in. 1t
the instance of Gen. Gardner, but found them
unfit for the purpose Of u prisOI-;ln attempt MAS
then made to turn the creek, near tie Town,
through the prison grounds, but this was found
imprdclicable, on account of the ascent and Waiit
of machinery. The supplies of food had been
drained in the country around Salisbury to furnish
Gen. Lees arIuy-tilis was urged Dy Maj. Gee, as
4 reason against sending the prisoners there.
Witness had frequent conversations with Maj.
Gee, in regard to the sickness and mortality
among the priSoners-Aiaj. Gee deplored their
condition. Often there rations 10 give
out, and the officers sat up at night awaiting
trains 10 bring in food. The prisoners brought i'll
water il barrels-they had plenty of barrels
there many men furnished 10 go with the
prisoners for water, the number detailed as
guard by the commander of the troops, would
.alow-never heard any complaint for lack of bar
rcls-thinks most of the wells in the prison had
means for drawing up wate-the acquisitions for
guards were seldom filled, and this was source
of trOublcto Maj. Gee, who frequently complained
of it; but he had no control of the commander
OF the troops, and could not force him to furnish
more than he fit Most of the troops there
officers and men, very inefficient
Witness stated the duties of the officer of the
day; also gave description of the prison sinks
which accords substantially with former testi-
mony on those subjects. Stated it was very DIFF
ticult to find officers who understood and would
perform their duties. The hospitals were sup
piled with straw whenever witness saw them
thinks there were no prisoners there but had
shelter OF some sort-the burrows in the ground
were more comfortable in dry weather than tents
witness had burrowed partly in the ground
at one time the army of Virginia had no tents
couid not get them. Maj. NIorfitt informed wit
ness that there were 400 tents for the prisoners
lhey were Slbley, wall and common tents.
Inc tents were put up, after their arrival as
fast as poles could be procured.
At the time Cen Winder came to Salisbury
Maj. Moritt had some buildings framed and near
ly ready to put up for the prisoners, but Gen.
Winder stopped the work, saying the prisoners
would soon be remoyed-thcse buildings yera ~,
a large scale; as large the lumber would make
Maj. Gee applied TO the prison authorities at
Richmond for clothing for the prisoners, when it
was understood that the U S. had sent clothing
to the South for prisoners Of war, stating the
great restitution of the prisoners at Salisbury in
this respect. The rations of the prisoners were
the same as those furnished the guards-excep
that the bread in the prison was better than that
OF the guards, because the former was better
baked.
When Gen. Gardner was at Salisbury he ordered
that small surplus of the rations of the prisoner