From the Official Records, Ser. II, Vol. VI, pp. 1110-1111

OFFICE. C. S. MILITARY PRISONS,
Richmond, March 28, 1864.

Maj. THOMAS P. TURNER, Commanding, &c.:

MAJOR: I beg leave respectfully to report that this morning about 7 o’clock a Federal prisoner was shot and killed by a sentry on post No. 2, Crew’s Building. The facts of the case are comprised in the following statements of Lieutenant Watson and Privates Rule and James, to which I respectfully call your attention:

Statement of Lieutenant Watson, Company A, Nineteenth Virginia Battalion:

Was around the corner when I heard the report of a gun; came back and asked the sentry on post No. 2 if he had fired. He replied that he had, but did not know whether he had hit him or not; went upstairs and found the prisoner dying. The ball [begin p. 1111] had passed through his head. Some of the prisoners told me that they had warned him that if he persisted in keeping his head out of the window he would be fired upon, but he paid no regard to it.

Statement of Private B. Rule, Company A, Nineteenth Virginia Battalion:

Was on post No. 2. A prisoner put his head and shoulders out of the window. I told him to go away several times, but he paid no regard to it. I then drew on him and the cap snapped. He then made fun of me and laughed at me. I could not understand the words he said, but again refusing to take his head back, I recapped my gun and fired on him.

Statement of Private A. H. James, Company A, Nineteenth Virginia Battalion:

Was on post next to Private Rule; saw the prisoner have his head out of the window; heard Rule tell him several times to take his head in; also saw Rule snap a cap at him. I then turned to walk my beat, when I heard Rule’s gun go off; turned around and saw he had fired on the prisoner.

Your obedient servant,

JOHN LATOUCHE,
Lieutenant and Adjutant.

[First indorsement.]

OFFICE OF C. S. MILITARY PRISONS,
Richmond, Va., March 29, 1864.

Respectfully referred to headquarters.

TH. P. TURNER,
Major, &c.

[Second indorsement.]

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF HENRICO,
Richmond, March 29, 1864.

Respectfully referred to the Secretary of War.

JNO. H. WINDER,
Brigadier General.

[Third indorsement.]

MARCH 29, 1864.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY:

It appears that this Federal prisoner was shot by the guard after warnings to take his head in both from this sentinel and his fellow-prisoners, and, indeed, after the sentinel had snapped a cap at him. As I understand the orders, the sentinel was strictly in the line of his duty and the catastrophe due solely to the folly and disobedience of the unfortunate deceased.

                B. R. W[ELLFORD, JR.]

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