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OR, Ser. II, Vol. V, pp. 871-924 |
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CONFEDERATE CORRESPONDENCE, ORDERS, ETC., RELATING TO PRISONERS OF WAR AND STATE
FROM DECEMBER 1, 1862, TO JUNE 10, 1863. [ar118_871
con't]
Evidence taken before the committee of the House of Representatives of the
Confederate States appointed to inquire into the treatment of prisoners at
Castle Thunder. SATURDAY, April 11, 1863. WILLIAM CAUSEY sworn: I live in Elizabeth City County but have
been in Richmond since January, 1861, employed as a detective in General
Winder's detective police force. <ar118_872> I know something of the treatment of the
prisoners. They are put in huddles, sometimes 500 and 700 in one building.
Sometimes they are treated well by the commandant and the wardens, but I have
seen them severely punished. I have seen them tied by the thumbs and raised up
on their toes. I don't think theirs could have been very aggravated offenses;
rather think it was for disagreements among themselves. I don't know how long
they remained tied up, but from the best information they were kept sometimes
eight hours. I don't know that any of the sick prisoners were thus treated. I
saw a man handcuffed around a post, raised up at first and afterwards cut down
when his blood had stagnated. I don't know what offense he had committed. On
another occasion a canteen of gunpowder was exploded in the prison room by some
of the prisoners. The powder was collected from cartridges and was not much in
quantity. I heard the report of it ten minutes after its occurrence and rode up
to General Winder's office with Captain Alexander. While in General Winder's
office Captain Alexander reported the circumstances of the powder explosion. I
don't know what the general said, but Captain Alexander went back to the prison
and put the men down in the pen outside, where they remained two or three days.
They had no covering and it was raining. The men in the pen were those in the
room where the powder was exploded. Captain Alexander demanded the names of
those who put the powder in the stove, and because the men refused to tell put
them all in the pen. It was last fall, in the month of November I think. I heard
of some of them dying shortly afterwards. They died after that I am positive,
but I never knew their names. Prisoners guilty of bad offenses have irons on
them generally, but I don't think any of the men put in the pen had irons on. I think two men have been shot at the
prison since Captain Alexander has been in charge, and one on Franklin street at
the guard-house. The man killed at the guard-house was shot while attempting to
escape. In my opinion all could have been arrested without being shot. The
desperate men were generally put in Castle Godwin. The soldiers picked up on the
street are put in this prison. Castle Godwin is not part of Castle Thunder.
Thunder was Godwin's successor in cognomen after removal. The man shot a few
nights ago at Castle Thunder certainly could have been captured without
shooting. There is a standing order to shoot only if he cannot otherwise be
arrested. I have seen prisoners whipped, but I don't
know by whose or what authority. I have seen men severely whipped on the
buttocks with straps; don't know how many lashes were laid on, but I should
think about fifty. I only saw one whipping. On this occasion the officers were
requested by Captain Alexander to go up into the prison room and see the men
whipped. The whipping strap was secured onto wooden handles. They were made of
harness leather or sole leather from eighteen inches to two feet in length. The
blows were laid on about as hard as a man could do it. I have seen prisoners
wear the same clothes for months until they were ready to drop off in rags. I
think there have been instances of attempts to bribe the guard.
J. F. SCHAFFER sworn: I reside in Richmond and am a detective in
General Winder's force. The prisoners are treated according to their behavior.
Some of them I think have been cruelly treated. They were punished sometimes for
fighting, sometimes for stealing. I have seen them whipped, one received fifteen
lashes, another twenty-five and a third fifty lashes. The prisoner that received
fifty lashes was pretty severely cut. I know something about putting the
prisoners out in the back yard. It was in November, and it was raining during a
portion of the time. They were put there for exploding gunpowder in the
building. The prisoners who were put out were put there because they would not
tell who did it. Some of those men died afterwards. I could not say who gave the
order to put the men in the yard, but I suppose Captain Alexander ordered them
to be put there. They had generally woolen clothes on. Two men have been killed
in Castle Thunder and one in Franklin street guard-house. The man last mentioned
was attempting to escape when shot. Of the other men one of them was a deranged
man and was put in a cell. He got out of the cell and in attempting to get away
was halted by the sentinel, but not heeding was shot by him. He was a Yankee
prisoner brought from the Libby Prison and shot the same night. I have seen two
men whipped in Castle Thunder, but it was done by order of the court-martial. I have seen prisoners bucked for one or
two hours. Some of them had attempted to escape, others had been insulting to
the officers of the prison. Some of the prisoners are well clad and others very
poorly. Some have no bed clothing. I have been connected with the prison over
one year. I know the prisoners need clothing, and common decency requires that
they should be better clothed. The prison is kept very clean--as clean as it
well can be. The printed rules require this. I have never beard the officers of
the prison abuse the prisoners unless the prisoners were refractory. One
prisoner's clothing is very frequently stolen by the others.
<ar118_873>
ROBERT B. GROW sworn: I am a resident of Richmond and have been
for forty years. I am one of the detective force under the provost-marshal or
rather General Winder. Of the treatment of the prisoners at Castle Thunder I
know very little except from hearsay, as my position does not require me [to go]
beyond the office. I can recall an instance or two of their treatment. On one
occasion I remember Captain Alexander had one of the prisoners whipped for
garroting or robbing another prisoner. I did not see him whipped, but heard that
he was whipped and I presume the captain gave the order to have him whipped. I
do not know whether he was whipped on his bare back or not; I say I do not know
it of my own knowledge, but I think he was. I know of the prisoners being turned
out in the Castle yard but do not know what their offense was. It was in quite
cold weather and rainy and they had nothing to cover them but the clothing they
had on and no roof covering to shelter them. I do not know what their offense
was; do not know what rations they had while out there nor whether they had bed
clothing or not. The yard is an ordinary one, walled in; do not know how large
it is. I know two or three prisoners to have been killed at the Castle. One was
the case of a Yankee who was shot and the other case that of the deserter
(Carroll) shot the other night in trying to escape. The one that was shot last
was shot lying down, dragging himself along the balcony trying to get out. I was
not present at the time. Some of the prisoners are well clad and others again
are very indifferently clothed. The prison room is comfortable; there is a very
large stove in it.
T. G. BLAND sworn: I am from Louisiana and was former steward
of the prison hospital. I went there on the 10th of November last and was
relieved from duty on the 4th of the present month. In regard to the treatment
of the prisoners confined there I myself was a prisoner font months in Fort
Delaware, and from experience I consider the prisoners treated well there to
what they are here. I consider them most barbarously and inhumanly treated. On
one occasion ten or fifteen of the prisoners were brought out in a large hall,
two of them accused of stealing from the prisoners. Two out of the number
brought out were not whipped; they were sick I believe, and that was the reason.
I do not think the whipping was done by order of the court-martial as Captain
Alexander had the men brought out himself. The prisoners were stripped and
whipped on the bare back, each receiving ten or twelve lashes laid on by the
strongest man in Captain Bossieux's company. The words Captain Alexander used
while the whipping was going on were, "'Lay it on!" They were whipped for
stealing money; and as they were all hard cases, every one of them, some of them
did steal it no doubt, but none had a chance of vindicating themselves. They
were tied up to a post and whipped. The general treatment of the prisoners is
very good but some of the officers of the prison treat the prisoners as though
they were dogs instead of soldiers fighting in the common cause of the
Confederacy.
Captain Alexander here suggested that the witnesses be kept separate from the
witness delivering his testimony as customary in proceedings of the kind before
the committee. The chairman of the committee said he judged the witnesses
present were all honorable men and would not suffer their own ideas to be
influenced by the testimony of a witness. He, however, yielded the point and all
the witnesses except the one under investigation were sent from the committee
room. Mr. BLAND resumed: I have heard of men being killed at the
prison. I helped to put one in a coffin myself and sent the corpse to the
undertaker. He was shot while trying to escape. I have seen men handcuffed
around a large pillar and one of these I saw so punished was taken from the
hospital. His offense was trying to bribe the guard. Neither had irons on them.
The sick man was under the surgeon's care then. He was handcuffed around the
pillar between 5 and 6 o'clock in the afternoon, and when I got back to the
prison at 11 o'clock the same night he was still there, and I do not know how
long after that. The worst characters in the prison are handcuffed and wear ball
and chain; the others who are not so desperate are left to go free. Those tied
up could not have been in for very serious offenses. I know the prisoners were
put out in the yard and kept there for two or three days. Some of them were
thinly and badly clothed and others were well clad. The citizen prisoners are
generally clothed well and the soldiers poorly, having no change. Some of those
exposed in the yard were brought up into the hospital afterwards sick with the
pneumonia, and I heard the surgeon, Doctor Coggin, say that the exposure in the
yard made them ill and nothing else. Several of them died in the hospital of
pneumonia. The season was in November, with cold, rainy weather. I know of one
direct violation of the Army Regulations of the Confederate States and that was
in <ar118_874> regard to treatment received by myself. It was for disobeying an
order of Captain Alexander. The order was to prescribe for a patient. I am not a
graduated physician and it was against the orders of the surgeon in charge. I
was ordered to a dungeon in which I could not stand up straight--a cell about
six feet square. I had no chance to vindicate myself as I sent for Captain
Alexander and he did not visit me. I was kept in the dungeon until the next
morning. I have known prisoners to be kept there three or four days. I have seen
on one or two occasions fifteen or twenty prisoners "bucked" and "gagged" at a
time. The "gag" is effected by a stick inserted crosswise in the mouth, and the
"buck" is to tie the arms at the elbows to a cross-piece beneath the thighs.
They were generally ironed, wore ball and chain, and were charged with various
offenses. I recollect now I only "gagged" one. I have seen the "barrel shirt"
worn by a prisoner. The shirt is made by sawing a common flour barrel in twain
and cutting armholes in the sides and an aperture in the barrel head for the
insertion of the wearer's head. The one I saw have the barrel shirt on wore it
as a punishment for lighting. He was tied up by the thumbs to the roof and stood
on his feet, wearing it one day and part of the next day. Do not know how much
longer he wore it.
JOHN CAPHART sworn: I have been employed with Captain
Alexander eleven months on the detective force; seven months of that time I have
been at the prison. I have never seen a prisoner harshly treated except by
orders. It was really dangerous at times for the officers to go among the
prisoners, some of them were such desperate characters. A new prisoner sent in
among them was usually knocked down, beat and robbed if he had anything about
him. I was off and on duty at the prison, sleeping there. One night I would be
off duty and go to my room at 8 o'clock and another night at 10 o'clock. I
remember the occasion of the difficulty between Captain Alexander and Mr. Bland.
The captain gave him an order to render service to a sick child. Bland refused
to obey and Captain Alexander again reiterated his order and Bland again refused
with an oath. I then put him in the cell by the order of Captain Alexander.
Bland was intoxicated on that occasion. I have seen men whipped at the prison by
order of the court-martial and General Winder and by order of Captain Alexander
through General Winder (by the latter generally), for stealing from prisoners
and the maltreatment of prisoners. I have seen prisoners tied up by the arms.
They were two men whom nobody could manage. They were not tied up by the thumbs.
The whipping was all done with a leather thong or strap about two feet long. In
regard to the barrel shirt I saw one of Captain Bossieux's men walking in one by
order of the court-martial.
-----
MONDAY,
April 13, 1863.
The examination of witnesses was resumed.
JOHN CAPHART, detective, was recalled to the stand.
By Captain ALEXANDER:
Question. Mr. Caphart, how many years of your life were you connected with
prisons before you came with me? Answer. Thirty-one years, sir.
Question. How does my treatment of prisoners compare with what you have seen in
other prisons? Answer. Very favorable. For offenses such
as have been committed in the Castle by the prisoners they would be put in
irons. As I said before, at one time it was dangerous to go into the prison
room. It was necessary to observe great caution in going in among them. I did
not feel safe unless I went with one hand on my pistol.
Question. Do you think you ever saw a worse set in any jail? Answer. No; I never did. They would be
ironed down to ringbolts in the floor for conduct such as I have seen at the
Castle.
Question. They chain men down in jails then do they? Answer. Yes; I have seen it done and
helped to do it.
Question. You have been eleven months with me as commandant of Castle Thunder
post; what is my manner and demeanor toward the prisoners? Answer. Usually kind on all occasions. Men
reported to you for misconduct you have sometimes imprisoned them. <ar118_875>
Question. Have you not seen persons who came to the Castle spit upon by the
prisoners from the windows and the sentinels cursed and abused? Answer. Yes; I have seen it done many
times.
Question. When prisoners are brought in under arrest and I am present, do I not
attempt to discriminate and instruct the officers to separate and classify them
and assign them different quarters according to their appearance or offense? Answer. Yes; I have seen it done and know
it was done.
Question. Do you know anything of the plot gotten up among the prisoners to
assassinate me and other officers, set the board yard [fence] on fire and
liberate the prisoners? Answer. Yes; I heard of it and it is a
well-established fact, and A. C. Webster who was hanged was the ringleader of
the plot.
Question. And [after] all this when Webster was afterwards condemned to death
what was my conduct toward him? Answer. You cut and fixed his food and set
up with him after he received his injuries in attempting to escape.
Question (by Mr. WARD, counsel for Captain Alexander). Mr. Caphart, tell the
committee how James Tyree was treated by the prisoners when first put into the
Castle. Answer. Yes; I remember when Tyree was
brought to the prison; he was dressed in a suit of black and looked genteel and
nice. He was sent upstairs and put in one of the rooms. In a few minutes I heard
a tremendous noise of shouting, yelling and hallooing mingled with cries. I went
up as fast as I could and found Tyree all beaten and gory with blood and
stripped to his drawers. He was so bloody and bruised that I could hardly
recognize him. I rescued him and took him out from among the prisoners and they
followed and crowded around yelling, "Let me at him once more, the son of a
bitch; kill the son of a bitch," &c. I carried him outside of the railing and
the prisoners attempted to come over the railing after him. Tyree had nothing
but his drawers on then. The clothing was never found.
Question (by the COMMITTEE). How many more cases of this kind do you know about? Answer. I know of one case--an old man
fifty years old who was beaten and died from the effects of it.
Captain ALEXANDER. That was a case of murder outright.
Question (by Mr. WARD). Did you ever see more lenient treatment by the captain
of such incorrigible prisoners? Answer. Never in my life, sir; never saw
prisoners better treated. Such misbehavior elsewhere would have led to their
close confinement.
Question (by the CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE). You say the prisoners are dangerous
to each other and visitors? Answer. Not now, sir; since the whipping.
Question. How many do the guards number? Answer. Fourteen, or about that number.
Question. Did you ever know visitors to the prison to be attacked? Answer. Yes, sir; always told visitors to
look out when they went where the prisoners were. I have seen beef bones large
enough to knock a man down thrown at visitors. Once the commandant and all of
his officers had to retreat from a shower of beef bones.
Question. How long since were the prisoners so desperate? Answer. Before the whipping of the
ringleaders. The conduct of the prisoners has improved since. <ar118_876>
Question. Were some of the men whipped brought from the room from whence the
beef bones were hurled? Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. What for? Answer. For fighting, stealing and other
offenses.
Question. How did you know they were the men? Answer. They were pointed out by the other
prisoners. The captain said he would have them all whipped unless they pointed
out the guilty ones. They did so and the guilty ones stopped out.
Question. How many men were brought out to be whipped? Answer. I think there were eight or ten.
Question. Were these men whipped for fighting? Answer. Yes, sir; they were.
Question. How do you know they were the right men? Answer. I do not know for certain whether
the men whipped were the right ones or not, but the other prisoners said so.
They were engaged among others and were pointed out by the other prisoners.
Question. How many prisoners were beaten in that fracas? Answer. Several. One old man named
Mitchell was beaten so dreadfully that he has been crazy ever since.
Question. Do you know the provocation for the fight, and was it inquired into? Answer. I know of no provocation. The case
was inquired into by Captain Alexander. There was a great change after the
whipping. All was quiet and we could go in and out without molestation.
Question. How many rooms are there in the prison? Answer. In the second story there is a
large hall and beyond that a large-sized room where citizens and disloyal
persons are confined, and on the third story is a very large room for the
soldiers, and partitioned cells, or rather rooms, for prisoners tried by
court-martial and prisoners awaiting trial by court-martial.
Captain ALEXANDER (to the committee). We get so accustomed to the men received
at Castle Thunder that we know their character as soon as they come in and are
thus guided in our disposition of them.
Mr. WARD (counsel for Captain Alexander, to the committee). Men are often
received from the commanding officer of a company accompanied by an order
running something like this: Take this man and put him in a cell and
feed him on bread and water till I send for him for he is one of the damnedest
rascals in the world.
Captain ALEXANDER. Such irresponsible orders are never observed nor followed
out, though.
Question (by the COMMITTEE). Was the whipping referred to by order of General
Winder? Answer. Yes, sir, it was. I carried the
order myself from the general to the captain.
WILLIAM CAUSEY, detective, was recalled to the stand.
By the COMMITTEE:
Question. Do you know anything about prisoners who were whipped; and if so,
whether they were Confederate volunteers? Answer. Yes, sir; and I think they were
volunteer soldiers, for there are no others there.
Question. Do you know what was their crime? Answer. No, sir. <ar118_877>
Question. Did not you hear something about a row among the prisoners? Answer. No, sir; I only saw some men
whipped.
Question. How long have you been a detective? Answer. Since March last, twelve months
ago. I left the Castle six or eight days ago and was transferred to the
provost-marshal's office.
Question. Up to the time you left were the prisoners there all Confederate
volunteers? Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Were there any Yankee prisoners there? Answer. Yes; there were some in the lower
room, sent from the Libby Prison when it was full.
Question. What is Caphart's character as an officer? Answer. I should say he was rather rough.
Question. In his general deportment toward the prisoners is he humane or
otherwise? Answer. He was otherwise, I should think.
He would curse them, shake his stick and talk of how be would serve them.
Question. From the tenor of his remarks would you suppose he would be gratified
rather than humiliated at the chastisement of a soldier? Answer. Rather gratified, I think.
Question (by Mr. WARD). Causey, don't you think Caphart a good officer and
detective? Answer. I do not, sir.
Question. Did you ever hear Caphart exult over a man whom he thought was
punished properly or justly? Answer. I don't know his thoughts. I can't
answer that question.
Question. From his conversation did you think he thought the men were justly
punished? Answer. No, sir; I did not.
Question. Did you ever hear him express any regrets that they were whipped? Answer. No, sir.
Question (by Captain ALEXANDER). Do you know whether the prisoners whipped were
Yankees or Confederate volunteers? Answer. I think they were Confederate
volunteers.
Question (by Mr. WARD). Have you been in the habit of visiting the prisoners? Answer. Rarely or never except on
business.
Question. Did you see the men whipped? Answer. I did.
Question (by Captain ALEXANDER). How many lashes were given them, and did you
hear the sentence of the court-martial? Answer. I think it was by order of the
court-martial.
Question. Where was the whipping done? Answer. Upstairs. <ar118_878>
Question. On what part of the body was the lash laid on? Answer. On the buttocks I think.
Question. Did you see any prisoners tied up? Answer. Yes; lifted up on their toes.
Question. Did you ever knock a prisoner down? Answer. No, sir.
Question. Did you ever strike a prisoner? Answer. Yes; after the prisoner struck me
Question (by the CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE). What is Captain Alexander's
treatment of the prisoners generally? Answer. He is sometimes kind and sometimes
the reverse of kindness.
Question (by Mr. WARD). Do you know what provocation the captain had in thus
speaking? Answer. No; but I have heard him speak
very snappish when prisoners were being put in. He expressed himself only in
language.
Question. What was his language? Answer. Well, something like, "Shove them
in there" "Put them in there, God damn them."
Question (by Mr. WARD). Did not the prisoners refuse to be put back sometimes
and resist--so much so as to require the exercise of force? Answer. I never had a prisoner to refuse
to go in, but I have had them to resist me on the street.
J. F. SCHAFFER, detective, was recalled to the stand.
By the CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE:
Question. What is the deportment of Caphart toward prisoners? Answer. I have known him to be very
abusive, generally, when prisoners were impudent to him. I have heard him curse
prisoners under arrest when they held back or resisted him.
Question. Did you ever see men tied up by the thumbs? Answer. I have seen prisoners tied up
either by the thumbs or the wrists. It is called "trysting up" and is a sailor's
punishment.
Question (by Mr. WARD). Did you ever examine to see by which they were tied, the
thumbs or the wrists? Answer. No, sir.
Question (by the CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE). For what offenses were those you
saw tied up? Answer. For bribing the guard I believe. I
don't know whether they were Yankees or Confederate volunteers.
Question. Do you remember on certain occasion when eight or ten men were
whipped? Answer. I heard it rumored; didn't see it.
Question. Is Caphart's conduct toward prisoners abusive? Answer. No; except on occasions; he was
rather kind.
Question (by Mr. WARD). Mr. Schaffer, don't you think Caphart as good an officer
as there is on the force? Answer. I must say I have heard him abuse
the prisoners very much. I have heard him use some very harsh language toward
them. <ar118_879>
Question (by Captain ALEXANDER). Who is the most passionate of the two, Causey
or Caphart? Answer. I couldn't say.
Question (by the CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE). Is Caphart kind and humane toward
the prisoners or the reverse? Answer. I cannot say.
Question (by Captain ALEXANDER). You know him to be a kind husband and father
don't you? Answer. I never saw him in the midst of
his family so I cannot say.
ROBERT B. CROW, detective, was recalled to the stand.
By the CHAIRMAN:
Question. You know Caphart? Answer. Yes, sir; I do.
Question. What is his general disposition; is he kind? Answer. He is exactly the reverse of that.
Question. Did you ever hear him express any regrets for punishment inflicted
upon soldiers? Answer. No, sir; he rather exulted at it.
I have heard him say, "Damn them, I'd take a knife and cut them in pieces."
Question. Does he treat them roughly or kindly? Answer. Very roughly indeed.
Question. Without provocation? Answer. He is generally rough; it is
natural with him. I have seen him shove and push prisoners about as though they
were negroes. I never heard him express any regrets but rather exulted at their
treatment.
Question. How many prisoners are usually confined in the Castle? Answer. Between 400 and 500; sometimes
more and sometimes less. They are constantly being received and discharged.
Question How often is it found necessary to punish the prisoners? Answer. I don't know. I seldom go up among
the prisoners. I have seen whippings inflicted three or four times.
Question. Is it necessary to flog them as often as once a week? As often as once
a fortnight? Answer. I cannot say.
Question (by the CHAIRMAN). What is Captain Alexander's conduct among the
prisoners under his charge? Answer. He is sometimes rough and
sometimes pleasant.
Question. Have you seen him rough without provocation? Answer. Well, the captain has a good deal
to excite and provoke him, but I have seen him speak to and treat the prisoners
harshly when I thought there was no occasion for it.
Question (by Mr. WARD). Don't you know that the captain has an excited manner
and when he swears like a sailor oftentimes he does not mean anything? Answer. I don't know.
Question (by Captain ALEXANDER). Did you ever, Mr. Crow, regret a punishment you
saw inflicted on a prisoner at the Castle and thought it was wrong? Answer. I have, sir. <ar118_880>
Question. Have not you, Crow, exulted over the seizure of liquor from poor women
at the depots when you caught them smuggling it into the city? Answer. Yes, sir; that was my business,
sir.
Question (by the CHAIRMAN). Did you see the whipping of a man for knocking the
eye out of another man? Answer. Yes; I was ordered up along with
other officers to witness it.
Question. Was it a powerful man who laid the blows on? Answer. Yes, sir; about the strongest man
they could get. They gave him I don't know how many lashes.
Question. Was the thong made of heavy leather? Answer. Yes, sir; a heavy, thick strap.
Question. Was the man whipped tried by the court-martial or was he lashed by
Captain Alexander's order alone? Answer. I think it was by Captain
Alexander's order.
Question (by Captain ALEXANDER). Mr. Crow, do you like Caphart? Answer. I do not, sir.
Question. Haven't you had a quarrel with him? Answer. I have, sir.
T. G. BLAND was recalled to the stand.
By the CHAIRMAN:
Question. Do you know Caphart? Answer. Only since I have been at the
prison.
Question. What is his general conduct toward the prisoners? Answer. Very rough and uncouth.
Question. Did you ever hear him express regrets at their harsh treatment? Answer. No; on the contrary I always found
him willing and assisting to carry out the tyrannical orders of Captain
Alexander.
Question. Did he exult over it or appear gratified? Answer. I can't say as to that, colonel.
Question. How long have you known Caphart? Answer. Four or five months I reckon.
Question. Were you present at the whipping of the two prisoners referred to by
the other witnesses? Answer. I was, sir.
Question. Who did the whipping? Answer. Two men did the whipping; one laid
it on light and the other very heavy. It was in the case of an old man named
Mitchell who had been badly beaten or in a case of stealing money from
prisoners.
Question. The prisoners you saw whipped, were they Confederate soldiers? Answer. They were, and I don't think they
were whipped by order of the court-martial.
Question. Do you know anything of the case of George Wright, a deranged
prisoner? Answer. Yes. I found him lying down behind
a door in the prison room mired in his own filth with no clothing on but a short
swallow-tailed coat. He was completely <ar118_881> covered with scabs and
vermin. Some of the prisoners said he had been lying there a week and more. I
took him up into the hospital and treated him medically.
Question. What is Captain Alexander's treatment of prisoners under his charge? Answer. He is in some instances very kind,
in others very different.
Question. With or without provocation? Answer. I can't say; but whether with
provocation or not he might treat prisoners as an officer should treat them.
Question. Were you ever in the room where the prisoners are confined? Answer. Yes; I was in there every day.
Question. Did the prisoners ever assault or throw beef bones at you? Answer. No; not to my knowledge.
Question. Did you ever see them throw beef bones at anybody? Answer. No; I never did.
Question. How many prisoners do you know to have been killed at the Castle? Answer. I can't say, as I was only there
five months. One or two killed in that time.
Question (by Captain ALEXANDER). Mr. Bland, is there not a place in the Castle
called the "sick bay," where the warden puts the prisoners who need to be
examined by the surgeon? Answer. I know there is such a place.
Question. Is it not the duty of the surgeon to look after these sick cases and
have them removed to the hospital? Answer. Yes; it is his duty I believe.
Question. Have you not made threats of personal violence toward me? Answer. I have not, sir.
Question. Don't you know the cause of Wright's dementedness or insanity? Answer. Yes. Masturbation.
Question. When you were put in the cell by my order were you not possessed of a
candle and a bottle of whisky? Answer. Yes, sir; I was.
Question (by Mr. WARD). Was the cell not naturally lighted? Answer. Yes; through the keyhole.
Question. Do you not harbor an animosity against Captain Alexander? Answer. That makes no difference just now.
I will tell you: Once the captain sent a negro boy with a bottle to the
steward's hospital room for a bottle of whisky. My orders were to give nothing
of the kind out and I so informed Captain Alexander. He then wrote me an order
for the whisky and I wrote in reply that it could not be done. Captain Alexander
then sent for me to come to his room. I went to his room and there was a little
dinner party going on. He asked me to sit down, and after I rose asked me to
furnish whisky for the party and I told him I could not. He said: "Suppose a man
was suffering from a broken leg and I was to order you to furnish whisky for his
relief and you refuse; I would put you in the cell." I was afterwards put in the
cell for refusing to prescribe for a patient because I was not a graduated
physician and knew nothing about the disease. «56 R
R--SERIES II, VOL V» <ar118_882>
GEORGE W. THOMAS sworn.
By the CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE:
Question. Mr. Thomas, state what you know concerning the treatment of prisoners
in Castle Thunder and any other circumstances bearing on this investigation. Answer. I am from Henrico County and have
been a detective to Captain Alexander since the 13th of March, last year. The
general treatment of the prisoners I must say is good as far as my knowledge
extends. Two classes of desperadoes are to be found in the Castle, one from far
down south and the other from Baltimore; the "wharf rats" of New Orleans and the
"plugs" from Baltimore. A third class is the inoffensive soldiers who are the
great majority.
Question. Is in your opinion the conduct of the officials toward the prisoners
humane and kind? Answer. Generally kind except on
occasions.
Question. On what occasion was that? Answer. When the prisoners were put in the
back yard as a punishment for outrages committed among the prisoners--robbing
and beating the more inoffensive of them--I looked into the yard and seeing the
prisoners suffering I reported the condition of the prisoners to Captain
Alexander and he had them brought immediately. Some of the prisoners were warmly
clad, but the more desperate of the prisoners generally stole the blankets from
the others.
Question. Where did Captain Alexander receive his orders for the punishment of
the prisoners? Answer. From General Winder I think.
Question. How often were the prisoners put out into that yard? Answer. Only on that one occasion that I
recollect.
Question. Had they any blankets? Answer. Some of them had, but the
strongest and more desperate got them.
Question. Was there any covering to the yard to shelter them from the storm? Answer. No, sir.
Question. What is your duty in connection with the prison? Answer. I am a detective.
Question. Are all of the prisoners without blankets? Answer. No, sir; not all. Men go in there
and their blankets are taken from them by the desperadoes to make ropes
wherewith to escape.
Question. Are there any benches or seats in the prison rooms? Answer. No, sir; nothing of the kind; they
would break and burn them up if there was.
Question. Have you seen men whipped there? Answer. I have on one or two occasions.
Question. Was the punishment inflicted by order of General Winder? Answer. It was by his order which was
carried [out] by Caphart. There were eight of them whipped on one occasion. Some
two or three were struck a dozen or more blows; others were let off with less.
Question. What other kind of punishment did you ever see inflicted there? Did
you ever see prisoners wearing barrel shirts? Answer. Yes, sir; I have.
Question. Did you ever see men tied up by the thumbs? Answer. No, sir; I never did. <ar118_883>
Question. Have you known men to be killed there? Answer. Yes; several were killed there.
Question. Do you know the circumstances? Answer. General Winder's orders were after
the discovery of the plot to escape to fire upon any prisoner thrusting his head
from the windows in defiance of the guard or attempting to escape.
Question. Do you think the men shot and shot at could not have been recaptured
without shooting? Answer. I know of one instance myself in
the case of Campbell, a deserter, who escaped and he led me a hard race. I fired
at him twice and he would have escaped but for the guard coming up in his front.
Question. Do you know of any cases of whipping at the prison Answer. Yes; several cases. One case, that
of an old man, Captain Alexander interested himself very much in because of his
age and through his influence with General Winder got the sentence of the
court-martial remitted.
Question (by Captain ALEXANDER). Thomas, do you think I am a cruel man? Answer. No, sir; I do not.
-----
TUESDAY,
April 14, 1863.
GEORGE W. THOMAS was recalled.
By the CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE:
Question. Do you know anything of Caphart? Answer. I am associated with him as a
detective.
Question. Is he kind and humane? Answer. I have seen him treat prisoners
with unnecessary harshness and cruelty I thought.
Question. Do you think his rough deportment natural with him? Answer. He has a rough way and is fond of
talking.
Question. Does he seem to regret the punishment of any prisoner? Answer. Caphart has filled the office of
jailer to prisons for a great number of years and in the habit of dealing with
bad fellows; he has perhaps grown callous and unfeeling.
Question. Have you ever heard him regret or exult over the punishment of any
prisoner? Answer. I couldn't say he was a kind man
especially to bad prisoners. Never saw him exult over the punishment of any man,
even the hardest villains, with which he had to do. He viewed it in the light of
a moral corrective. Toward these he was rather rough. I have heard him cures
them, but at such times he had provocation. The prisoners often brickbatted the
sentinels; they never threw bones at me; they threw bones at Caphart because
they hated him generally. He is not popular with the prisoners.
Question. If Caphart had been kind to them do you think they would throw beef
bones at him? Answer. I can't say as to that. I have
seen them throw missiles at the sentinels.
Question. How are the prisoners clad generally? Answer. I have seen some badly clothed,
but not more indifferently than at other prisons. Some of the prisoners steal
from each other. To relieve their destitution after the battle around Richmond
Captain Alexander sent out men to gather up the clothing and blankets from the
battle-fields to clothe the prisoners who were destitute. <ar118_884>
Question. Was sufficient clothing obtained in that way to clothe all the
destitute prisoners? Answer. I can't say that every one was
furnished, but a great many were.
Question. Have you seen a prisoner with more than one suit of clothing? Answer. Yes; some of them have, not many.
Question. Do you know such a man as George Wright, once a prisoner in the
Castle? Answer. Yes, sir; he was in the hospital
when I saw him. His condition was very bad.
Question. Do you know anything of a deranged Yankee prisoner who was brought
from the Libby Prison to the Castle and shot in attempting to escape? Answer. Yes; he was brought from the Libby
Prison for safe-keeping having attempted to get out of that place. He was shot
at the Castle in attempting to run the sentinel. The sentinels had been changed
and the sentinel who shot him did not know I think that he was crazy. I don't
know whether Captain Alexander was present there or not.
Captain ALEXANDER. No, Mr. Chairman, I was not at the Castle at that time.
Question. What officer received him? Answer. I don't know, sir.
Question. Was it not the duty of the officer who received him to notify all that
he was deranged? Answer. I think it should have been done.
Question. Have you seen barrel shirts worn by the prisoners? Answer. Yes; two of them by sentence of
the court-martial.
Question. When soldiers are arrested on the street and taken to the Castle is it
customary for an examination to be made into the charges against them? Answer. They are never arrested except
without papers and the returns are made every morning to the provost-marshal and
General Winder.
Question. Then you put them all in among the "wharf rats" of New Orleans and the
"plug uglies" of Baltimore? Answer (by Mr. WARD). If the committee
will allow me I will explain that point. When men are arrested on the street and
elsewhere and sent to the prison their papers are examined. If regular they are
discharged; if irregular they are put back until a case can be substantiated or
disproved. If the prisoners are sent by the provost-marshal or General Winder
the commandant of the prison has no authority to discharge and they are put
back. If at the expiration of a reasonable time their case remains undisposed of
a letter detailing the facts is forwarded asking an investigation. Some
prisoners have remained in the prison a long time it is true, the difficulty of
getting testimony and collecting witnesses operating against an early
investigation. Again instances have occurred where they have been taken out on
writs of habeas corpus.
Question. Are not a great many soldiers taken up and confined there who have
merely overstaid their furlough? Answer (by Mr. WARD). Yes; men are sent
there frequently from the provost-marshal or General Winder's office with an
order to this effect-- Confine these men and send them to their regiments," and
such men are sent daily to the army or to Sergeant Crow, at the barracks, or
under a guard and escort of the commandant of the prison post. <ar118_885>
Question. You turn the prisoners all in together; the desperadoes with the
inoffensive soldiers? Answer. There are four or five large rooms
for their accommodation and we discriminate as much as possible in our
classification of them.
Question (by Captain ALEXANDER). Mr. Thomas, have I anything in the world to do
with the clothing of prisoners? Answer. I think not unless it was a
voluntary act.
Question (by Mr. WARD). Have you been in the Army; are not the prisoners in
Castle Thunder clothed and fed as well as the soldiers now in the Army? Answer. I should say fully as well.
Question. Has not Captain Alexander exerted himself to clothe the more destitute
of them? Answer. Yes; I know of many instances of
it.
Question (by the CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE). Do you know Mr. Bland? Answer. I don't know much about him.
Question (by Captain ALEXANDER). Is Bland a drinking man? Answer. I don't know anything about him.
Question (by Mr. WARD). If prisoners were put in Caphart's charge do you think
he would beat them if they would go along quietly and peaceably? Answer. I don't think he would.
Question (by Captain ALEXANDER). Don't you think there are as hard cases here as
anywhere else? Answer. Yes, indeed; it would be hard to
match.
STEPHEN B. CHILDREY sworn:
By the CHAIRMAN:
Question. What is your position at prison? Answer. I am the commissary of the prison.
Question. What is the general treatment of the prisoners confined there? Answer. Good, very good; good as persons
in the same situation could be treated.
Question. Did you ever see any whipping there without the authority of a
court-martial? Answer. I never saw any of the prisoners
whipped.
Question. What is the general deportment of the officers toward the prisoners;
is it kind? Answer. As kind as could be expected. Of
course harsh measures have to be used sometimes.
Question. What is the necessity or excuse for rough language? Answer. Because they have some very rough
characters to deal with. If they were treated differently they would run over
them and take the prison.
Question. You have never seen any whipping, then? Answer. No. <ar118_886>
Question. Seen any other kind of punishment inflicted? Answer. I have seen prisoners "bucked."
They were of the more desperate characters.
Question. Do you know of any prisoners being killed there? Answer. I know of one man dying from the
effects of a beating at the hands of some of the prisoners and I know of another
who was shot by the guard in attempting to escape.
Question. Do you think it was absolutely necessary to shoot this man to have
recaptured him? Answer. I suppose it was.
Question. Was the man outside of the building when fired upon and killed? Answer. No, sir; he was on the balcony of
the second story on Cary street about jumping down. The sentinel was on the
pavement below him.
Question. Do you know anything about a crazy man who was shot in attempting to
escape? Answer. Yes; I heard of the circumstance.
Question. Do you know anything about the case of George Wright, a prisoner, and
his condition when sent to the hospital? Answer. Yes; his condition was very bad. I
furnished him with clothing but he would tear the clothes off his person.
Question. In what condition was he when removed to the hospital? Answer. He was traveling about the prison
like the other prisoners but in a demented state of mind. I gave him his food.
No filth is allowed to collect in the prison. It is I will venture to say one of
the cleanest prisons in the State. Captain Alexander is as particular in this
respect as any man I ever saw. His usual disposition when not provoked is kind
and urbane.
Question (by Mr. WARD). You are the commissary of the prison are you not? Answer. I am.
Question. And as such you came in contact with the prisoners's great deal? Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. From your knowledge what is the character of the prisoners, or some of
them? Answer. I consider them desperate indeed.
Question. Did they ever make threats toward you? Answer. Yes; the whipping had an excellent
effect on them. They are getting worse now again since the law was passed by
Congress abolishing whipping in the Army. Something will have to be done to stop
their insubordination.
Question. You know about the clothing collected by Captain Alexander for the use
of prisoners? Answer. Yes; I distributed the clothing to
the prisoners. I am at liberty to sell them anything in the way of food,
luxuries or necessaries; anything they want if they have money to buy. I
consider their rations better in quantity and quality than the soldiers in the
field.
Question (by the CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE.). Do you know anything about the
whipping at the prison? Answer. I never saw any whipping although
it was done.
Question. Do you know anything about the shooting of prisoners? Answer. Yes, sir. <ar118_887>
Question. Who gave the order to shoot the prisoners? Answer (by Captain ALEXANDER). I gave the
order to the sentinels based on the orders of General Winder. I was not at the
prison when the shooting occurred, but it is a general standing order to shoot
at prisoners cursing or abusing the sentinels from the windows.
Question (by Captain ALEXANDER). Mr. Childrey, do you consider me a cruel man? Answer. I do not; but I consider you a
positive man--one who wants discipline and orders carried out.
Question. How many poor women am I now feeding from the milk obtained at the
Castle? Answer. Yes; I know you are supplying a
good many.
Question. Did I not start a hospital and place my wife in it to attend to the
sick and wounded? Answer. Yes; I know that, captain.
Question. And did the Government ever pay me one cent for my money expended? Answer. Not that I am aware of.
BALDWIN T. ALLEN sworn.
By the CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE:
Question. What is your position at Castle Thunder? Answer. I am warden.
Question. What is the treatment of the prisoners? Answer. That is rather a comprehensive
question. In answering it I must take into consideration the character of some
of the prisoners. The commandant has found it necessary to enforce very rigid
rules. If they had been less rigid he would have been unable to keep one of them
there.
Question. Does Captain Alexander and the other officers speak kindly or roughly
to the prisoners? Answer. I don't know of any officer being
unkind to well-behaved prisoners.
Question. Have you seen whipping there without order of a court-martial? Answer. I have seen whipping inflicted but
whether with or without the order of a court-martial I cannot say.
Question. Do you know that General Winder gave the order or not? Answer. I heard so; but I am not positive
by whose authority it was done.
Question. Did you ever see any whipping? Answer. Yes; I have seen fifty lashes laid
on by order of the court-martial.
Question. Have you seen persons receive six, eight and ten lashes? Answer. Yes; frequently.
Question. Were the men you saw whipped Confederate prisoners and soldiers of the
Confederate service? Answer. I think not. I think they were
Yankee deserters.
Question. Were any of them Confederate soldiers? Answer. I can't say; but I can get the
names to-morrow.
Question. Do you know anything about the killing of some prisoners? Answer. Yes; last fall a Yankee deserter
who was deranged attempted to run the guard and was killed. Another was killed
recently in attempting to escape. His name was Charles Carroll and he was a
Confederate soldier. <ar118_888>
Question. Have you seen men wear barrel jackets? Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Have you known prisoners to be put out in the prison yard without fire
or shelter in cold weather? Answer. Yes; several months ago. Their
offense was robbing and stealing, breaking windows and gross violation of the
rules.
Question. How long did they remain there? Answer. All one day and night and part of
another day.
Question. Any other instance? Answer. The next time the prisoners were
put into the back yard it was in October or November. They had no covering or
shelter except their blankets and clothing.
Question. You say you found out they were suffering. Suppose you had not taken
them in promptly what do [you] think would have been the consequences? Answer. I suppose they would have been
cold. They could have stood it though. Our soldiers stand it. They had fuel to
make a fire.
Question. Of those placed in the yard last fall do you know of any who were
taken sick afterwards? Answer. Some of them may have been sick
but whether from that cause or not I can't say.
Question. Did you ever see men tied up by the thumbs? Answer. Yes; once or twice I saw men tied
by the thumbs.
Question. What was their offense? Answer. Stealing, &c.
Question. Were they Confederate prisoners? Answer. Yes.
Question. Who was one? Answer. Martin Darby, a young man
twenty-five years of age. He was tied up several hours.
Question. Have you seen men bucked there? Answer. Yes, and helped to buck a good
many of them myself?
Question. What was their crime? Answer. For various offenses. And I may
say here that all the punishment inflicted is necessary to keep up the
discipline of the prison.
Question. Did you ever see the hands of any of the men tied up black from the
stagnation of the blood in them? Answer. Yes, I have frequently I think. |
