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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.
Question. Did you ever see men handcuffed and their hands bloody from the
effects of the tying up? Answer. Yes; one was named William
Campbell. He slipped up his handcuffs to his elbows I believe to cause
stagnation of the blood.
Question (by Mr. WARD). You are the warden? Answer. Yes, and in that capacity I am
generally among the prisoners.
Question. What is the character of some of the men confined there? Answer. I consider many of them the most
desperate men in the Southern Confederacy. It would not do to treat them
leniently. <ar118_889>
Question. Are not all picked up and put together in these rooms appropriated to
the prisoners? Answer. But we try to separate the quiet
from the quarrelsome prisoners.
Question. Have you seen prisoners there with one suit on constantly? Answer. A change of clothing is beneficial
to the health and comfort of the prisoners but few of them had it.
Question. Is it a rare or common case for the prisoners to be whipped? Answer. Rather rare; but it has had a
beneficial effect whenever it has been done.
Question (by Captain ALEXANDER). They say you let George Wright lay for two
weeks in the prison room sick without attending to his wants? Answer. I think there must be some mistake
about that. I go around every morning and call the breakfast roll, and when I
find a man down by sickness I take his name and report him to the surgeon.
Question (by Captain ALEXANDER). I handle a great many prisoners do I not, but
whipping is comparatively rare? Answer. Yes, it is; for so many.
Question (by Mr. WARD). Are not the prisoners in the Castle constantly changing? Answer. Yes; those there to-day are sent
off to-morrow.
Doctor LUNDAY sworn.
By the CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE:
Question. State to the committee what you know of the condition and treatment of
prisoners at Castle Thunder. Answer. I know nothing particular about
the military conduct of the prison. I have been there to get prisoners out and
have received notes from the prisoners. I have been through the prison and
hospital and the condition of the hospital and prison apartments were much
better than I expected to find. Below there is a good conduit for carrying off
the filth but the building is not well ventilated, but that is the fault of the
building. The hospital is clean beyond comparison, and the surgeon from what I
saw pays all the necessary attention. While there I saw an inclosure, the back
yard, containing a large number of prisoners. They were in a most woeful state
as regards clothing and comfort and I remarked that it looked like pandemonium.
The prisoners were growling and cursing and I heard the clanking of the chains.
One of them accosted me as I passed along and asked me to get him out. I saw
Captain Alexander and asked him to let the fellow out. Captain Alexander
remarked: "To keep order here I have had to kill ten men."
(Captain Alexander here explained that he had used the expression "killed ten
men" in a jocose manner in response to Doctor Lunday's remarks.)
-----
WEDNESDAY,
April 15, 1863.
The examination of witnesses for the Government was resumed.
J. T. KIRBY sworn: I am at present an inmate of Castle
Thunder where I have been held a prisoner as a spy for some months past. I am an
Englishman, a resident of Niagara, Canada, where I have a wife and children. I
came through the lines on business with the Government which will be explained
as I proceed. God knows I wish to go back there.
<ar118_890>
By the CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE:
Question. State what you know about the treatment of the inmates of the prison. Answer. At times I have known Captain
Alexander to be extremely kind to prisoners; at times the very opposite,
extremely harsh and domineering. I have been the recipient of his kindnesses and
on the contrary I have received treatment from him which to describe [witness
excited] I would prefer being interrogated as I proceed.
CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE. Go on and give your testimony in your own way.
Question. Is Captain Alexander kind? Answer. I consider him the very opposite
of kindness and it is so as a general rule. I myself have experienced some of
his inhumanity.
Question. What is the character of his usual intercourse with prisoners? Answer. At times he is kind and at other
times extremely rough and uncouth, then kind again and then rough as the fit
takes him. Simply for going into the hospital by order of the surgeon in charge,
Doctor Coggin, Captain Alexander threatened to put me in the cell. I was ordered
to the hospital by the surgeon to be treated for an affection of the throat. I
was requested or rather invited by Doctor Coggin to visit the hospital daily for
medical treatment; also to while away a few moments of my confinement in
pleasant conversation. This privilege was refused me by Captain Alexander with
the threat if I violated his instructions he would put me in the cell. I am in
the hospital now. I was taken from cell No. 3 last Friday and given the range of
the citizens' room. On Monday morning following while engaged in cleaning my
teeth at the pump, the prisoner Campbell being present, Captain Alexander came
up to his room. We were talking together of the captain and matters about the
Castle, and as Captain Alexander came up I turned on my heel to enter my room
saying to Campbell (suiting the action to the words), "I have no more respect
for Captain Alexander than I have for my royal Bengal stern." I immediately went
to my room and the officers came and took me out and confined me again in cell
No. 3, a room about fifteen feet square and one window therein which was covered
with boards. I had belonged to a mess in the prison room and the mess resolved
to supply me with my meals. Mr. Allen, the warden, refused to let me have the
food sent me and sent it back. I wrote a note to the mess and learned that it
was refused. I was not allowed to purchase anything from the commissary. I asked
for rations and they were refused me. I had nothing to eat from Friday morning
to Saturday, some time during the day.
Question. On what charge are you confined? Answer. I have been in prison since the
8th day of November last on suspicion of beings spy. I applied for and obtained
a writ of habeas corpus, and on the 6th of March Mr. Aylett, the counsel
for the Confederate States, closed the case announcing that no evidence had been
adduced to hold me on the charge. On the 11th of March judgment was rendered in
the case by Judge Lyons and I was informed that I was at liberty to return to
the North by flag of truce which I refused to do, &c.
Question. What is Captain Alexander's treatment of the other prisoners under his
charge? Answer. Captain Alexander has his
favorites. There are prisoners there whose sentences of court-martial condemning
them to wear ball and chain have not been carried out. I know of two instances
and others have been told me by the prisoners. Any person or prisoner could be
Captain Alexander's favorite if he would become his pimp. I could have been one
I reckon.
Question. Relate what instances you know of sentences not being carried out. Answer. I know of one young man who was
sentenced by court-martial to wear a ball and chain whose sentence was not
carried out. He was sentenced to ball and chain and hard labor. He was a fine
young man and I assisted him to write a letter to the President of the
Confederate States asking a commutation of the sentence. The charge against him
was assaulting his superior officer and desertion. He was in the citizens' room
and never had the ball and chain on. <ar118_891>
Question. Did you ever see any Confederate soldiers whipped there? Answer. I have seen several whipping
operations.
Question. Without the order of a court-martial? Answer. I don't know. One James McAlister
I was told was whipped twelve lashes for being quarrelsome in the prisoners'
room. I have seen Yankee prisoners whipped for quarreling. I saw four whipped at
one time. I was not where I could see at all times. I think two were whipped
without the order of the court-martial. They were whipped on the bare back with
a leather strap. Do not know that the lash drew blood; heard that it did in one
instance.
Question. What other kinds of punishment have you seen inflicted? Answer. I have seen prisoners bucked. One
in the condemned cell was bucked for speaking to persons in the citizens' room.
Question. How long do they remain bucked? Answer. I have seen them part of two days
in that condition.
Question. Have you seen men wear barrel shirts? Answer. Yes; I have seen two prisoners
with them on about the prison.
Question. Is the punishment of the shirt severe? Answer. No; not painful; not so severe as
either thumbing or bucking. The humiliation is greater than the punishment.
Question. Have you seen any thumbing? Answer. Yes; I have seen prisoners tied up
by the thumbs as high as they could reach on their tiptoes. They were tied with
a small sized whip cord.
Question. How many hours have you known them to remain in that condition? Answer. I have known them to remain in
that condition from morning until night.
Question. Did you ever examine to see if any blood was drawn by the cord? Answer. Once I did. The prisoner had
pulled and loosened the cord and his thumbs were black and blue. He didn't
complain of pain but rather took it as a good joke. I have seen men tied up
around a post so tightly that they couldn't lie down or sit down. In one
instance I was told that it was the orders of Captain Alexander that they should
remain so all night but some of the officers had let them down so they could sit
and lie down.
Question. What was the crime? Answer. Attempting to bribe the guard I
believe.
Question. Are the foregoing all the instances you know of? Answer. They are all I can recall at
present.
Question. How many prisoners were put into the yard on one occasion? Answer. All in room No. 2--about one
hundred.
Question. How long did they remain there? Answer. For several days I think. It was
in the latter part of November or December. Their offense was putting powder in
the stove.
Question. Were any of them sick afterwards? Answer. I cannot say but I understood some
were ill from the effects of the exposure. They had neither covering, fire nor
shelter except the high walls and it was raining part of the time.
Question. Did Captain Alexander give an order to have a fire built in the yard? Answer. I never heard of any. <ar118_892>
Question. How many days were they kept there? Answer. Four or five I understood.
Question. Were any men shot at the prison? Answer. Yes; I have heard of men being
shot and shot at for putting their heads out of the window. I myself was
threatened with shooting. I know Captain Alexander gave an order to the guard to
shoot me while I was looking out of an open window once. I drew down the window
without moving my head and defied them. I remonstrated with Captain Alexander
and told him my head was not outside of the window, and neither was it.
Question. Are there any female prisoners? Answer. Yes; two I believe.
Question. Do you know anything of their treatment? Answer. No; only what has been told me.
Question (by Mr. WARD). Mr. Kirby, where are you from? Answer. From Niagara, Canada, sir, and
have been confined eight months in the citizens' room.
Question. What were you sent from that room for? Answer. A difficulty I had with the
captain I suppose. We were ordered to scrub and prepare the room for the visit
of the inspection committee and the guard would allow but two of us to go to the
pump for water at one time. I remonstrated with Captain Alexander, when he
called me "a damned son of a bitch" and I called him "a damned coward." I was
put in the cell but that night ordered back to the citizens' room. I apologized
for my conduct.
Question. Then you were put out of the citizens' room last Friday? Answer. Yes; my difficulty with Captain
Alexander caused it.
Question. You have a good room and a good bed? Answer. Yes. The captain hasn't taken them
away yet but I am not indebted to him for my bed.
Question (by Captain ALEXANDER). You say I didn't carry out the sentence of
Leary who was condemned to wear ball and chain? Answer. No; you did not.
Question. Did not you yourself petition the President for his reprieve? And did
not you sit down in my office and write a letter to the President for Leary
concerning his ease? And did I not allow you to receive your meals from the
hotels and faro banks and gave you many privileges not enjoyed by the other
prisoners? Answer. Yes, captain, you did all that.
Question. You say Mr. Allen's treatment of the prisoners is inhuman? Answer. He is generally intoxicated and it
is the merest exception in the world that I ever got a kind answer out of him.
Question (by the COMMITTEE). What is your opinion of Caphart? Answer. I consider him in all respects a
vile, low, inhuman person.
Question. Do you find prisoners like kind and humane officers? Answer. I have heard prisoners say they
could have escaped at times when it was Mr. Riggs' night on, but they would not
do it for fear of compromising his character. All the officers are down on him.
I have known the captain to treat him kindly and at other times snub him.
Question. Do you know Mr. Bland? Answer. Yes; his deportment is generally
kind.
Question. Do you know about the case of George Wright? Answer. Yes; but I never saw him until I
saw him in the hospital. <ar118_893>
Question. Are you as a prisoner allowed to see persons from without the prison? Answer. Once Hon. Mr. Boteler called to
see me and I was refused an interview with him. I have sent for persona who have
been refused to see me. I have been allowed to communicate with counsel several
times under seal and this privilege was also stopped. I once gave a letter to
Mr. Riggs to carry to the captain to read. He said it must go to General Winder
and I gave it to Mr. Ward. On Sunday morning following, some four or five days
after, Mr. Ward said he had given the letter to Captain Alexander.
Question. What became of the letter? Answer. I don't know, sir.
Captain ALEXANDER. Mr. Chairman, shall I send to General Winder's and get it?
The letter is on file there.
Mr. WARD. There is an order from General Winder that all communications from the
prison shall go through his office. Accordingly all letters from the prisoners
are put in a box and taken up to General Winder daily.
Question (by the COMMITTEE). What did you come here for, Mr. Kirby? Answer. I had special business to the
Confederate Government.
Question. Was that business made known on your arrival here? Answer. It was.
Question. Are the authorities aware of your arrest? Answer. They are.
JOHN SHEHAN sworn.
By the COMMITTEE:
Question. You are a prisoner at the Castle and a Confederate soldier? Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. What is the treatment of the prisoners generally at the Castle? Answer. In a majority of cases I think
they are treated kindly. Men are whipped there. I have seen them whipped without
the sentence of the court-martial. Captain Alexander I saw present at the
whipping.
Question. How many lashes were laid on? Answer. From six to eight lashes I should
judge. They were laid on hard. The offense in one case was rioting and fighting
in the prison room.
Question. Have you seen any bucking there? Answer. Yes, and men whipped who were
Confederate soldiers. The bucking was for the rioting in the prison. I have
known men to remain bucked as long as four hours.
Question. Have you seen prisoners tied up by the thumbs? Answer. Yes; I think so. He was a
Confederate soldier belonging to Rodgers' cavalry. His offense was thieving I
believe.
Question. What about the prisoners put out into the yards? Answer. It was in November and they were
kept there several days. A few had bed covering. Some were in bad health when
put out there and looked miserable enough. Some were sick immediately after
their exposure and I remember of one dying in the hospital.
Question. Have you seen any men shot there? Answer. Yes; one was Carroll who attempted
to escape. <ar118_894>
Question. Could he not have been captured without shooting? Answer. He was in the act of getting out
of a window onto the portico beneath which was the guard. I think he could have
been easily taken without killing.
Question. Was there any investigation into the shooting? Answer. I didn't hear of any. I have known
prisoners to be shot at for putting their heads out of the windows. The orders
are to shoot them if they will not obey the sentinels. They have been told that
often enough. I have put my head out of the window a thousand times and never
was shot at.
Question. Have you got a cell or "sweat house" for the solitary confinement of
prisoners? Answer. Yes; it is a room about eight feet
square. I was confined there once in irons. I could lay down. There are no
windows. There is no protection from either the heat or cold.
Question. What were you put in the cell for? Answer. For going out as corporal of the
prison and getting drunk. I am in prison for being absent from my regiment
without leave. My sentence will be out to-day or to-morrow. I have been in
prison six months. I was there one month before any charge was preferred.
Question (by Captain ALEXANDER). You are a sailor are you not, Shehan? Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Is it not my habit to treat prisoners kindly? Answer. No, sir; it is cruel and inhuman.
Question (by the CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE). What is Captain Alexander's
deportment toward prisoners? Answer. Sometimes he is kind as can be and
at other times he is the very opposite.
Question. You know Caphart? Answer. I knew him in Norfolk. He has
little to do with the prison. Never saw him arrest a man.
Question (by Mr. WARD). Has my conduct been kind? Answer. Yes; you are a gentleman as far as
I know.
Question (by Captain ALEXANDER). Have I not a great deal to provoke and make me
angry? Answer. Yes; I know you have. You have
treated me well. I do not find fault with the harshness of the rules but it is
impossible to keep so many men in perfect order.
CHARLOTTE GILMAN sworn: I have been in Castle Godwin and Thunder
going on twelve months altogether--the last time about one month.
Question. What are you in prison for? Answer. I am a witness against George W.
Elam for counterfeiting.
Question. What is the general treatment of the prisoners? Answer. I have always been well treated.
All the ladies there spoke of Captain Alexander in the highest terms. All like
him. I know nothing of the treatment of the other prisoners.
Question (by Captain ALEXANDER). Did I not go to General Winder and get an order
for your washing? Answer. Yes, you did; you have been very
kind, and you let me go out very often.
WILLIAM CAMPBELL sworn: I have seen no cruelty on the part of
Captain Alexander toward the prisoners. I think I am the only one who ever
suffered. I was among the number put into the <ar118_895> yard. I was also
bucked and put in the yard. The charge against me is desertion. I am from
Louisiana.
Question. Have you been tried by court-martial? Answer. No, sir.
Question. How long have you been in prison? Answer. Only one month the last time. I
have escaped three or four times.
-----
THURSDAY,
April 16, 1863.
The examination of witnesses was resumed.
V. T. CRAWFORD sworn: I am located in Richmond and am a
practicing lawyer. I was admitted to the bar some eight months ago. I know
nothing of the treatment of the prisoners confined in Castle Thunder, but I do
know something of the conduct of its officers [towards those] who are called
upon to visit the prison in a professional way. After I had visited the prison
once or twice without interruption obstacles began to be thrown in my way.
First, an order forbidding conversation between myself and clients without a
third person in the shape of an officer being present. At another time I was
refused admittance beyond the guard, and all the conversation I could hold with
my clients had to be carried on through a wire gauze screen. At another time Mr.
Ward informed me I would have to get an official permit from General Winder to
see prisoners. I went to General Winder for the pass and after some delay I was
furnished with a general pass which had to be renewed on the occasion of every
visit. General Winder asked me about the prisoners I wished to see, and said
there were some men there whom they did not wish to have counsel. I asked him
what men! And he replied, "We have our rights and you yours," and something more
which I do not recollect. I have continued visiting the prison up to Tuesday
last on a pass to be admitted at the discretion of the commandant. Day before
yesterday I wrote out a pass to admit me to an interview with two prisoners,
George Summers and Lieut. George Brown. I carried it to Captain Winder in a back
room at the headquarters and he signed it. Both of the men sent letters
requesting to see me six days after that. I never got the letter. Inquired and
found he had given it to Mr. Allen who said he had handed it to Mr. Ward to
forward to General Winder. Went to General Winder but found no letter there.
Eight or ten days after that the letter reached me.
Question (by the CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE). Did Captain Alexander obstruct your
intercourse with the prisoners? Answer. He told me to do my speaking to
them through the guard. Question. Did he know your visits were professional
ones? Answer. Yes; he was well aware of that fact.
Question. Were not some of your clients citizens? Answer. Yes; one. A man named Weeks; was a
citizen of Loudoun or Fauquier. He was finally tried and discharged after an
imprisonment of four or five months.
Question. Do you know anything else bearing on the subject before the committee? Answer. I know another affair which first
raised my suspicions. I was called professionally to see a soldier named Miller
belonging to Captain Thornton's company, of Caroline County. I agreed to
undertake his case for $50, and he said he would give that. Miller was
discharged and when I saw him he said Mr. Ward had told him not to pay me the
$50 fee, as he (Mr. Ward) had done more for him than I had. Previous to this
Miller told Ward to keep a note for $65 and give it to me. I inquired for the
note of Mr. Ward and it was not to be found.
Question. Did Miller pay Mr. Ward? Answer. I cannot say that he did.
Mr. WARD (to the committee). I deny the statement Mr. Crawford has made. He
called on me on one occasion and desired that I should solicit practice for him,
or in other words take advantage of my position to drum up clients for him at
the Castle. He said he understood <ar118_896> such a procedure was customary at
the Richmond bar and offered to give me half of the proceeds of such a joint
operation. I told him I would not be a party to any such arrangement; that it
was unprofessional, and that a party who stooped to it would most certainly lose
standing and position at the bar. I did say that in case Mr. Crawford was
inquired for I would notify him of it.
DENNIS O'CONNOR sworn: I was an inmate of Castle Thunder. I am
paroled to report there until I make a choice of the branch of the service I
shall enter. I prefer the Navy.
By the COMMITTEE:
Question. How were you treated while there? Answer. I was taken up on the street late
at night by the guard and sent to Castle Thunder as a supposed deserter. I had
been drinking. I was put in a dungeon, a small room called the "sweat house." I
was kept there from Thursday to Saturday at 3 o'clock when I was taken upstairs
to be flogged by order of Captain Alexander. I was ordered to take off my
clothes and I stripped. I was tied up by my wrists to a post and one of the
members of Captain Bossieux's company laid on the lashes and he would spring on
his toes at every lick. Captain Alexander was present and told the man with the
lash to lay it on to me. That was the only time I was ever whipped.
Question. Who arrested you? Answer. Caphart arrested me. I don't know
anything about his general disposition as he never came among the prisoners
much. He looked as if he would treat them rough if he had anything against them.
The prisoners all liked Riggs. He could go among them without molestation at all
times. Mr. Allen, the warden, is a rough man. I was put into the yard along with
the other prisoners. It was for exploding powder in the room. There was no
danger of blowing up the building. It was done to frighten some North Carolina
soldiers who were lying by the wall asleep.
Question. Did Captain Alexander find out the guilty parties? Answer. No, sir; they were all put down
into the yard because none would tell. The orders were to take no blankets or
extra covering but some were lowered from the windows afterwards. Some of the
prisoners were in bad health; several died from it and several were taken into
the hospital.
Question. Had the prisoners any fire in the yard? Answer. The commissary gave them some
wood, a dozen sticks or so at night, but none in the daytime. I don't remember
the month, but it was in November I think. It snowed the first night and the
next night it rained. The ground was not very muddy until our feet cut it up.
Question. Did you see any other whipping there? Answer. O, yes. I don't know whether by
order of court-martial or not. I saw ten whipped for being concerned in stealing
one coat. All except one were whipped, and he was a Federal prisoner. The others
were Confederate soldiers and two Yankee deserters.
Question. They were whipped because the coat could not be found? Answer. They did not know anything about
it I reckon. The coat was found. The prisoner who lost the coat selected the
prisoners whom he suspected to be whipped. Captain Alexander was present and
ordered the lashes to be laid on hard.
Question. How many lashes did they strike each? Answer. Well, some six, some eight and
some twelve.
Question. Have you seen any men bucked there? Answer. Yes; for such offenses as
disobeying orders, catting the walls, transgressing the rules, &c.
Question. Is bucking severe? Answer. No; not very severe. <ar118_897>
Question. Do you know of any men being killed there? Answer. Yes; several men were shot.
Question. Do prisoners who are confined in the sweat room suffer much? Answer. There is air but no light and the
fare is bread and water. I did not suffer for water. The corporal of the guard
brought me water and I had a bucket for slops. I could go out once a day myself.
Question. When arrested were you taken before the provost-marshal or to the
Castle? Answer. I was taken to the Castle.
Question (by Captain ALEXANDER). I had your brother Thomas there once, O'Connor;
what was my treatment of him? Answer. Well, captain, you treated me
rather rough.
Question. Are not all the prisoners glad to see me when I come among them? Answer. Yes; because they wanted you to
transact some business for them. Sometimes I wanted to get little things in,
such as clothing, &c., and I could not get them; and persons wishing to see me
have been denied I suppose by your order.
MARION C. RIGGS sworn.
By the CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE:
Question. What is your position at the Castle, Mr. Riggs? Answer. I was warden.
Question. What is the deportment of Captain Alexander toward the prisoners
confined there? Answer. I have seen many instances of
cruelty by order of Captain Alexander. I regard the treatment of the prisoners
by Captain Alexander and his officers as cruel and inhuman.
Question. Have you seen men whipped there? Answer. Yes, on several occasions; some I
knew were not by the order of a court-martial. They were charged with stealing
from other prisoners upstairs. Others were whipped for beating, breaking out of
cells and interfering with the guard, &c.
Question. What number of lashes did they receive? Answer. I have known as many as twelve to
be laid on.
Question. Did you see any bucking done there? Answer. Yes, and prisoners put into the
back yard and kept there two or three days and nights in succession. It was in
cold weather. Some were well provided with clothing. There was no sheltering
except the wall and no extra covering. They were fed on bread and water during
that time.
Question. Do you know of any men dying there after being taken out? Answer. I know of none, though several
were sick.
Question. The sweat house----do you know of men being confined there? Answer. Generally men caught in attempting
to escape were put in there on bread and water.
Question. What is bucking? Describe it. Answer. It is a severe and degrading
punishment. It is done by passing a splint across the elbows and tying them
beneath the thighs after the manner of a calf going to market. «57 R R--SERIES
II, VOL V» <ar118_898>
Question. Were any men shot there? Answer. I recollect one man who was shot
while rushing past the sentinel out of a cell. He was shot in the inclosed yard.
He could have been secured without shooting. He was making his way upstairs and
was fired upon at the foot of the stairs. He died in three or four days. He
seemed to be insane.
Question. What was Captain Alexander's deportment then? Did he seem to regret
it? Answer. I cannot say.
Question. What was the man's name; was he a Confederate soldier? Answer. I never could find out his name.
It was in October or November, 1862.
Question. Was there an investigation into the shooting? Answer. I do not know.
Question. Did Captain Alexander give orders to shoot men attempting to escape? Answer. I never heard of such an order.
Question. Did you hear any regrets expressed among the officers for the shooting
of this man? Answer. Yes, several, but not Caphart or
Allen. I heard the surgeon of the post wasn't in, and sent for Doctor Rucker, a
prisoner. I picked him up. He was crazy, and no mistake.
Question. Was it known that he was deranged? Answer. I could tell he was. He was
brought from the Libby Prison where he was fired upon for the same offense, and
was killed at the Castle the day he entered.
Question. What is the general character of Caphart? Is he kind? Answer. I would say not; rather brutal. I
have known instances where he has been ordered to tie up and buck prisoners and
he seemed to take a special pleasure in it. He would tie them up as tight as
possible, and I myself have let them down. I never heard him curse prisoners,
but have seen him shake his stick over them when brought in. I never heard him
express any regrets for them.
Question. What of Allen? Is he kind and humane? Answer. I never saw him use physical
force. I have heard him curse the prisoners.
Question. Is there any difficulty in managing prisoners? Answer. Sometimes there is
insubordination. They never resisted me nor threw beef bones at me, and I was
frequently among them.
Question. Do you think they would be insubordinate if kindly treated? Answer. I don't believe they would.
Question. Are you connected with the prison now? Answer. I was discharged on the first of
the month; it was said by the board or investigating committee to reduce force
and expenses.
Question. Do you know at whose instance you were discharged? Answer. I do not.
Question. Are persons allowed to see prisoners? Answer. Yes, if they have passes.
Question. Do you know of obstacles being thrown in the way of attorneys wishing
to see clients? Answer. I have known instances. They are
permitted to go in and stand at a screen window and talk through it. <ar118_899>
Question. Do you consider Allen cruel? Answer. Sometimes he is kind and at other
times crabbed. I like him very much.
Question. Do you regard Captain Alexander as cruel? Answer. I have thought his punishments
more severe than the cases demanded. He always had some friend whom he shielded.
Question. Do you know of any cases where the captain has taken the
responsibility of remitting the sentences of court-martial? Answer. No, sir; I do not. I was connected
with the prison six months and saw punishments once or twice a week.
Question. Hear of any complaints about food? Answer. Yes, there were some complaints.
There was plenty of food though; a pound of meat and a loaf of bread each. The
floors were swept once or twice a day and washed once a week, generally on a
Saturday.
Question (by Captain ALEXANDER). What are the characters of the prisoners
confined there? Answer. Very desperate fellows many of
them. I saw the cases of Mitchell and Tyree who were beaten by them, and the men
who were struck by a slung-shot. The guilty were afterwards whipped by orders
from headquarters, General Winder's. My position was on the same floor with the
mass of prisoners.
Question (by Captain ALEXANDER). What is the cry when a new prisoner enters? Answer. "Fresh fish!" They are then
generally beat and robbed if they have anything worth while.
Question (by Mr. WARD). Has Captain Alexander been kind to you and the other
officers? Answer. Yes.
Question (by Captain ALEXANDER). Do you think I am unkind? Answer. Yes; in some instances.
Question (by the COMMITTEE). When Captain Alexander sent the prisoners into the
yard was it done by order of General Winder? Answer. I don't know that it was.
Question. Was it in the newspapers? Answer. Yes; I think it was.
Question. Do you think Captain Alexander by nature a cruel man? Answer. Yes; I consider his treatment
cruel.
Question. What do the prisoners think of Captain Alexander? Answer. I have heard him spoken of with
disrespect.
Capt. CYRUS BOSSIEUX sworn.
By the COMMITTEE:
Question. You are stationed at the prison are you? Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. What punishments have been inflicted there in violation of law? Answer. I don't know that I have seen any
in violation of law. I know of whipping and bucking and men being put into the
yard to find out the perpetrators of outrages on prisoners. <ar118_900>
Question. Have you seen any tied up by the thumbs? Answer. No; but. I have seen them bucked.
It is not severe, but is esteemed humiliating. I have seen men tied up to a
post; I can't swear that I saw them tied by the thumbs; but the punishment can
either be made light or severe. I know one who was tied up for attempting to
bribe my guard. The guard told me of it and I reported the case to Captain
Alexander. Captain Alexander ordered him to be handcuffed and tied to a post. He
sent for me and I examined his ropes. I loosened them and he was afterwards set
at liberty. There were two connected in the bribing and they were Confederate
soldiers.
Question. Do you know Riggs? Answer. Yes; I do.
Question. Do the prisoners like him? Answer. Yes; they do as one of the
wardens.
Question. Do you know Caphart? Answer. I don't think him inhuman if
prisoners don't resist him hard; I don't consider him kind by any means. On one
occasion Caphart while having two prisoners--Dennis and O'Connor--in charge one
of the prisoners knocked a guard down and Caphart ordered the guard to fire,
which they did not do.
Question. Do you know of any men shot there? Answer. One of my guard shot a man who was
attempting to escape. The orders are not to shoot a man of whom there was a
possibility of capturing.
Question. Were these orders from the captain? Answer. Yes; but I don't know that the
orders were peremptory to shoot every one.
Question. Is there any necessity of shooting deranged men? Answer. I did not see the shooting; never
heard of that; I didn't speak of that.
Question. Did you ever hear of orders to the guard by the military commandant of
prisoners to kill them were they to put their heads out of the windows? Answer. Persistent effort in that way
would insure their firing upon because it was against the rules.
Question (by Captain ALEXANDER). The night that Riggs and Dillard had the fight
Riggs says I was drunk; was he not drunk or under the influence of liquor? Answer. I heard he was, sir.
Question. Do you think I am a cruel man? Answer. No, sir; I do not think so.
Question. I have sometimes hard cases to deal with? Answer. You have some of the hardest eases
in the Confederacy. I have heard of no persons being privately punished; all
openly, and exhibitions for the public.
Question. Has the captain no disposition to be cruel? Answer. No, sir.
Question. Nor Caphart? Answer. Good officer, sir.
Question. Ever see Allen drunk? Answer. I have seen him in liquor.
Question. How many times have you seen Riggs drunk? Answer. He was very drunk once from the
way he acted.
Question. Did he get mania a potu? Answer. I don't know.
O.R.--SERIES II--VOLUME V [S# 118]
CONFEDERATE CORRESPONDENCE, ORDERS, ETC., RELATING TO PRISONERS OF WAR AND STATE
FROM DECEMBER 1, 1862, TO JUNE 10, 1863.
<ar118_901>
HENRY EDENBOROUGH sworn.
By the COMMITTEE:
Question. What are you? Answer. I was a captain in the East India
Royal Navy. I came through from Washington in November last. The Yankees had
taken my papers and I was taken and looked up in Castle Thunder by order of the
Secretary of War. I experienced there excellent treatment by Captain Alexander.
I had a good room and opportunity to see the treatment of other prisoners. Never
heard of harsh treatment; never experienced any myself. Any person who conforms
to the rules will never be harshly treated. I have visited and commanded
military prisons in Europe, in Naples, Sardinia, in 1860 and 1861; have visited
and seen the hulks in India and China, and have seen nothing so lenient as at
Castle Thunder in America. In regard to the rations I consider them fine. I got
my meals sent frequently from the hotels, and dined there often, and always got
more than I wanted. Nothing was refused to come in to any of the prisoners. Many
small favors the prisoners were the recipients of. Men being sent off to their
regiments were allowed to go into town under guard to get clothing. I have seen
prisoners leave the prison who would take an affectionate and cordial leave of
the captain and express regrets to him at parting.
Question. Do you know of any soldiers put in as comfortable quarters as you
occupied? Answer. Yes; the citizens' room was very
comfortable indeed, and I have seen men put there.
Question. Then it depends on general appearance and conduct how treated? Answer. Yes; it depends upon behavior in a
great measure.
Question. Did the Secretary of War order your release? Answer. No; my arrest was by order of the
Secretary of War, and my release was effected through the courts.
Question (by Captain ALEXANDER). Do you think me a cruel man? Answer. No; not exactly; but you make men
toe the mark.
Question. Did you ever see Riggs drunk? Answer. Yes; he came in my room once very
drunk.
Question (by Captain ALEXANDER). Have you been offered a position in the
Confederate Army? Answer. Yes; major of artillery.
Question (by the COMMITTEE). Then you consider the punishments at Castle Thunder
humane in the highest degree? Answer. Yes, I do; considering.
Question. Would you take it as a mild punishment to be stripped naked and
whipped upon the bare back without the order of a court-martial? Answer. Well, in the service I belonged to
whipping was an ordinary punishment. It was not considered a great indignity in
the English service to be whipped with a cat o' nine tails.
Question. Is that all you know? Answer. That's all I know.
-----
WEDNESDAY,
April 22, 1863.
JOHN ADAMS sworn: I am from this city and have been in
Castle Thunder seven months for leaving my regiment without leave and going
home.
<ar118_902>
By the COMMITTEE:
Question. What was your treatment there? Answer. Well, I was treated pretty
tolerably rough. The charge against me was never established. There was an
attempt to bribe the sentinel and I was taken and handcuffed and ironed around a
post and tied up by my thumbs with a rope, my toes just touching the floor. I
was in that condition for one hour or more when Captain Bossieux came along and
released me. Then I was put into the sweat house, the floor of which was covered
with mud and water. I was kept there two days and nights. It was in March, 1862,
I think, and very cold. There was no dry spot in it. I could only stand up in it
half bent.
Question. How were you fed? Answer. I wasn't fed at all. I got nothing
except what I bought from the commissary. I happened to have some money. I was
put into the back yard and kept there a day and a half. I was bucked once, with
a relief of fifteen or twenty minutes at intervals.
Question. Were your wrists tied tight then? Answer. Yes; I can show the scars of
handcuffs on my wrists now.
Question. Were you ever before a court-martial? Answer. Yes. I was sent to wear a ball and
chain for six months and to be sent to my company. The reason I don't go to my
company is the captain wants me to stay here.
Question. Are your thumbs swollen from the tying up? Answer. Yes; it was very painful. I have
seen others tied up like me.
Question. Have you seen parties whipped without the authority of a
court-martial? Answer. Yes; some five or six. Their
offense was stealing from other prisoners.
Question. How many lashes did they receive? Answer. Some five or six and some more.
Captain Alexander was present and said once: "Damn him, give him hell; if he
don't need it now he will." He seemed to take delight in punishing us and he had
a very rough manner in the administration of his punishments.
Question. Has his general deportment been such that you consider him cruel and
inhuman? Answer. Yes, I do; and I think it gave him
pleasure to punish the prisoners.
Question. Do you know anything about the shooting of men at the Castle? Answer. Yes; I know of the man who was
shot at for sitting in the window. The sentinel ordered him to get out of the
window. I don't know whether he got out or not, but he fired and put a buckshot
through his hat.
Question. Was that by order of Captain Alexander? Answer. I have heard him tell the sentinel
to shoot the first man who put his head out of the window.
Question. Do you know Caphart? Answer. Yes, sir; and he is no gentleman.
He is a harsh and cruel man. Mr. Allen is rough spoken and I have heard him
speak so when a kind word would have done as well.
Question. Did you ever see Mr. Allen drunk? Answer. I have seen him out of the way
four or five times; never saw him so far gone that he couldn't attend to his
business.
Question. Do you know Riggs? Answer. Yes; he is a kind man and all the
prisoners like him. <ar118_903>
Question. Do you know prisoners who like Captain Alexander? Answer. Yes; some speak in favor of him.
Question. Do you think if Riggs had commanded there you would hear of any
fighting or throwing of bones? Answer. I don't believe they would; we
would get along well. I never heard of prisoners who had made their arrangements
to escape and would not because it was Riggs' night on.
Question (by Mr. WARD). When you were tied up by the thumbs did you not ask me
to let you down? Answer. Yes; you let me go.
Question. Wasn't the rope around your wrists and thumbs and over the nail and
not around your thumbs? Answer. I don't recollect now.
Question. What about your attempt to bribe the guard? Answer. The money was sent to me for that
purpose, I had not been accused of stealing.
-----
FRIDAY,
April 24, 1863.
The testimony for the defense was commenced. Mr. Farrar, M.D., made a statement
of facts that fell under his notice while visiting the Castle in the capacity of
one of the medical committee appointed to inspect the sanitary condition of the
prisons and hospitals. The impression made upon his mind was that every care was
taken of the prisoners that it was possible to take. This feature and the well
ordered condition of everything about the prison was remarked by all the
committee.
Capt. JACKSON WARNER, assistant quartermaster and assistant commissary, sworn.
Question. How long have you known Captain Alexander? Answer. Since June, 1861--never before.
Question. Did you ever see him intoxicated? Answer. I never saw him drunk but I
suppose he drinks sometimes. I always found hint attentive to his duties. I see
him twice a week or oftener. I never saw or heard of him being drunk.
Question. What do you think of his treatment of prisoners? Answer. I know nothing of his associations
with the prison. I never heard him curse in my life. Think he is a member of
church.
Question. Did you ever see him treat a prisoner roughly? Answer. Never in my life.
Question. What are your ideas of the management of the prison? Answer. I always thought the prison was
managed well, and I have had opportunities to see and know. I have no prison
experience myself.
Question. How long have you known Captain Alexander? Answer. Since June, 1861; and since that
time intimately so.
Question. Do you know any instances where Captain Alexander showed kindnesses to
prisoners? Answer. Yes, I do. In the case of Mr.
L'Hommedieu, my clerk. He was put into the Castle for drunkenness. He had a sick
wife at home and I went to Captain Alexander and stating the case asked him to
let him go home and I would be responsible for his return. He did so and the
next morning he reported. He was again arrested when sent to his regiment and
again released on his parole by Captain Alexander upon a statement of facts I
represented to him. <ar118_904>
Question. In what room was he confined? Answer. In the room in which the clerk
slept so he told me.
Question. Do you know anything in regard to the case [waste] of Government
property? Answer. I never saw any waste. If waste
had existed I would have taken notice of it as it is my business.
WILLIAM F. WATSON, C. S commissioner, sworn.
Captain ALEXANDER. Judge, some complaints have been made of my treatment of
lawyers coming to the Castle on business. You have been there frequently; tell
the committee how you were treated and how I deal with the profession. Answer. I am a practicing lawyer and have
frequently called at the Castle on business. I have always been treated by
Captain Alexander with uniform kindness; not only by the captain himself but by
all his officers I had no difficulty at all in gaining access to the prisoner I
wished to see. All I had to do was to go [to] the proper officer and they were
either sent down to me or I up to them. So far as the character of the majority
of the prisoners are concerned I must say, to express it in common parlance,
they are a hard crowd. It must require great coolness and determination to
manage them. I as commissioner have had some of them before me.
Question. Do you regard the captain as a cruel man? Answer. No; I should say he was rather of
a kindly disposition, rather impulsive. He can manage by an appeal about as well
as any official I know.
Question. Do you think Captain Alexander a man not to be swayed from his
purpose? Answer. I consider him impulsive but
positive; one to do a thing under the excitement of a moment.
Question. Do you think the prisoners could be managed better under a milder or
kinder man? Answer. Mild men are not always the best
for such posts; a little blending of the severe is better.
JOHN DE BUTTS, M.D., sworn. I am surgeon of Castle Thunder Hospital.
So far as I have opportunities of observation I regard the management of the
prison as good, very good. I have never had any prison experience before
By Captain ALEXANDER:
Question. Have I not told you, doctor, that your orders in regard to the sick
were supreme? Answer. Yes; you have told me so.
Question. Do you think I am a cruel man? Answer. I never saw any cruelty practiced
by you.
Question. Doctor, what was Mr. Bland discharged from the post of steward of the
hospital for? Answer. Moral incompetency I call it.
Question (by the COMMITTEE). What is moral incompetency? Answer. He was in the habit of
appropriating the hospital liquor to his own private use. No one else had access
to it for he had the key. I don't know how much was taken but a great deal more
was used than went to the patients.
Question (by Captain ALEXANDER). Is Kirby, the prisoner, comfortably fixed now? Answer. Yes; he has the best room in the
prison; the best ventilated and situated. <ar118_905>
Question (by the CHAIRMAN). Has Kirby the privilege of buying his meals?
Captain ALEXANDER (to committee). Gentlemen, I wish to prove by Doctor De Butts
that I never refused an appeal of sickness. When a man is to be branded I direct
the surgeon to indicate where the iron is to be placed and when men are
sentenced to be whipped the lashes are remitted if in the opinion of the surgeon
the party's health is unequal to the punishment.
Question (by the CHAIRMAN). Do you know of any prisoners being placed in the
yard of the Castle? Answer. Yes; a number were confined there.
They were brought in at night. I knew nothing of the whipping; never saw it
done. I know of one man who escaped and was shot, and another was shot at for
blackguarding the sentinel. His face was lacerated by splinters and I dressed it
for him.
Col. ROBERT MAYO, member of the Legislature from Henrico County, sworn.
Captain ALEXANDER. You have known me a long time, colonel; tell the committee
what you know of me. Answer. My first acquaintance with Captain
Alexander was on an occasion of a visit to him in his official capacity in
relation to some abuse near my residence, which he speedily caused to be
corrected. I found him pleasant and kind. This was when he was at Castle Godwin.
When he moved down to Castle Thunder I saw him oftener. A great many of my
neighbors were in the guard and I was frequently called to see prisoners. I
often remarked that I never saw so many prisoners together under the same
circumstances kept so orderly. They were as sprightly as any people I ever saw.
It was wonderful to me.
Mr. WARD. Colonel, tell about the shooting you saw there. Answer. One day I was about going into the
Castle; a sentinel was about shooting a prisoner at a window for a violation of
the rules when Captain Alexander interfered, ordered him to desist--not to
shoot; that he would order the prisoner to be put in irons instead. I saw two
prisoners shot at the Libby Prison, but Captain Alexander had nothing to do with
that.
Question (by the COMMITTEE). What other kinds of punishment did you see there? Answer. I saw prisoners wearing a barrel
shirt, but that inflicts no pain.
Question. Is it not degrading to the soldier? Answer. The one I saw did not think so; he
was jesting about it.
Question (by Mr. WARD). From your knowledge of Captain Alexander and his
treatment of prisoners, do you think him a cruel man? Answer. I do not consider him a cruel man,
by no means. If the prisoners conduct themselves well there is no trouble
whatever.
Question. Do you know Mr. Childrey? Answer. Yes, and a more honest and correct
man cannot be found in the city of Richmond. I also know Mr. Caphart and Mr.
Thomas, another officer at the prison and one of my neighbors. I have seen them
all in the discharge of their duties and found them very attentive. I have
called on Captain Alexander to send a squad of men to my neighborhood when
disturbed and peace has been restored.
Capt. THOMAS P. TURNER, commandant of the Libby Prison, sworn.
By Captain ALEXANDER:
Question. Captain, describe in your own terms your ideas of my treatment of
prisoners. Answer. Well, I regard the prison as
exceedingly well regulated; the discipline maintained has been good while the
character of the inmates is the worst in the land. I regard none of the means
employed to control them too severe or unnecessary punishment. <ar118_906>
Question. What kind of punishment do you inflict when any is necessary? Answer. For slight offenses I make them
"mark time" and for graver offenses I buck them.
Question. Your prisoners are Yankees and not Confederate soldiers? Answer. Yes, sir; all of them.
Question (by Mr. WARD). You have sent your worst cases to the Castle have you
not? Answer. Yes, I have.
Question. Is the order to shoot an escaping prisoner a standing order? Answer. No; I make my own orders and have
them approved by General Winder. I would allow no man to be shot who could be
caught without shooting.
Question. If a prisoner was to attempt to escape from your prison by running
upstairs as one did at the Castle would you consider it the duty of that
sentinel to shoot him? Answer. Not unless that man was about to
escape and there was no possibility of capturing him.
Question. Well, does a prisoner ever escape by running upstairs? Answer. Not in my prison, sir.
Question. Would you investigate a case of the kind? Answer. Yes, certainly, and report the
facts to headquarters.
Question. Did you send a deranged man to Castle Thunder and who was killed there
in attempting to escape? Answer. No, sir; it was done by my
predecessor.
Question. If a deranged man was brought to your prison would you not consider it
your duty to warn all hands that he was deranged in order to guard against
accidents or to confine him? Answer. It would be very difficult to know
what to do with him. The deranged man, Silas Richmond who was killed at the
Castle was a Yankee. He passed the guard several times in my prison, but the
guard understood he was crazy. As for keeping the prisoners in the yard at the
Castle over night I don't know anything about that.
-----
SATURDAY,
April 25, 1863.
The testimony was resumed for the defense. Capt. THOMAS P. TURNER recalled.
By Mr. WARD:
Question. Were you ever present at Castle Thunder when punishment was being
inflicted? Answer. Yes; I witnessed one whipping not
by order of court-martial. I think General Winder authorized it. Three were
whipped I think for maltreatment of other prisoners, stealing, &c. The lashes
were laid on tolerably hard, one receiving twelve and the other six, and a third
only three lashes. The lashes were laid on with a leather strap about eighteen
inches long and weighing about one pound and a half. The lashes were laid on
tolerably hard but left no mark; the skin was not broken. Captain Alexander had
been instructed to administer twelve lashes, but he used his own discretion and
lessened the number. After it was over he congratulated the prisoners on the
manliness they exhibited and said he was sorry the necessity for the infliction
of such punishment existed.
Question. Did you hear Captain Alexander say "Lay it on harder?" Answer. No, sir. They were tied up by the
wrists around a post except one who said he could not stand it and he was
allowed to clasp his arms around the post. <ar118_907> The above was the only
punishment I saw inflicted there. I know Captain Alexander well, am often with
him and regard him as a kind man.
Question. Is Captain Alexander temperate? Answer. I never saw him intoxicated in my
life. I have seen him drink. He is a sociable man and will take a drink with his
friends.
Question. What is the character of the inmates of the Castle; are they mutinous? Answer. Their characters are various; some
of the most desperate men in the Confederacy are there. I was for a time the
officer of that post and all passed through my hands. Once I ordered the arrest
of two of my guard and sent them to the Castle. They were no sooner put in the
prisoners' room than they were set upon, beat, their clothing torn off and
robbed of everything. The offenders in this offense were whipped. I don't think
there is a cleaner prison anywhere. It is kept remarkably neat and orderly.
Question. Did you ever hear any complaints respecting Captain Alexander's
conduct? Answer. No, sir; not until this committee
met. I know he is a strict disciplinarian and keeps things straight around him.
His punishment is not more stringent than necessary I suppose. At my prison
where all are Yankees I have no need for such modes of punishment. No robberies
are committed among the prisoners for their money is all taken away from them
when they enter and given back to them when they leave. This is to prevent
bribery.
Mr. WARD. This plan was for some time in practice at the Castle, but the
prisoners would hide it about their persons and in their boots.
Question. Have you any instances of bribery? Answer. No; nothing positive though there
have been attempts.
Lieut. DENNIS CALLAHAN sworn: I am the adjutant of the Castle and have
been there three months.
By Mr. WARD:
Question. What is the general treatment of the prisoners? Answer. In my opinion judging from the
time I have been there the prisoners are treated as well as they could be under
the circumstances.
Question. What is the character of the prisoners? Answer. Some of them are of very bad
repute. I have seen whipping and bucking as punishment for stealing.
Question. Are not the prisoners fed on soldiers' rations? Answer. Yes; and as far as I know they get
more to eat than our soldiers.
Question. Are not the soldiers among the prisoners as well dressed as the
soldiers in the field? Answer. As a general thing I should say
they were. The captain has interested himself in obtaining clothing from the
Government authorities.
JAMES JENNINGS sworn: I have been six months in the Castle and
am from Maryland. I left my company on sick leave and was walking around getting
well when arrested. I broke out after two months' confinement and started for my
company and was arrested and sent back, my company being disbanded.
By Mr. WARD:
Question. Have you been kindly treated? Answer. Yes; as well as could be expected.
Question. Have you been punished? Answer. No, sir; I was put in the cell
four days; I thought that perfectly right. It was for writing a letter and
sending it out of the prison without submitting it to <ar118_908> the captain.
The cell is not a comfortable place; it is dry but cold. I suffered from the
cold and was fed on bread and water. I think I was kept there five days. I
thought the letter would quicker and surer by sending through private hands. I
am seventeen years old. I don't know what I am detained for.
JOHN DOYLE sworn: I have been in the Castle now four weeks.
I don't know Captain Alexander;would not know him if I was to see him. I am
treated as well as the others, I reckon. I never was punished; in fact I don't
deserve it I was shot at once in the window, or at least I thought I was shot
at; but I don't believe he intended to hit me, for I don't deserve it.
By Mr. WARD:
Question. Didn't a shot go through your hat? Answer. Can't tell; there is a hole
through it.
JAMES MCALISTER sworn: I am a seaman and came from Wilmington,
N.C. I came here when the war broke out. I have not been treated by Captain
Alexander as a man should be treated. I have been tied up and flogged like a
negro.
By Mr. WARD:
Question. How many lashes did you receive? Answer. Twelve I think, and by Captain
Alexander's order they were laid on as hard as I could well have stood it.
Question. Was the blood cut out of you? Answer. No; but I was black and blue and
was sore for a month afterwards. I was whipped with a strap three inches wide
and the blows were laid on by Caphart. I have been bucked for four hours in
front of the office entrance where everybody could see me. Buckling is not
painful but it mortifies and makes one ashamed.
Question. Do you know of any other punishments? Answer. Yes; I was shot at once for
standing at a window and looking out. The ball passed my head and went up
through the hospital which was full of patients.
Mr. Wynne, doorkeeper of the House of Representatives, detailed before the
committee some circumstances of his treatment at the prison when he went down to
summon some officers and the purport of his conversation with several witnesses,
which not being to the point here is omitted.
-----
MONDAY,
April 27, 1863.
Hon. Judge OULD sworn.
By Captain ALEXANDER.
Question. You, as judge-advocate of the court-martial, can give the committee
some idea of the character of the prisoners? Answer. The most of the cases brought
before me were eases of desertion, coupled with theft and cases of
insubordination.
Question. Do you think I am a cruel man? Answer. I do not know about that. I do not
think you are.
Question. What do you think about me carrying out an order? Answer. Being a military man you would see
any reasonable order carried out. I have conversed at times with persons who
have been in Castle Thunder and have questioned them as to their treatment
there. Never heard them mention any cases of cruelty but generally the reverse.
There has been half a dozen sentenced to be shot and two condemned to be hung.
We have never resorted to the death penalty unless the case presented the two
aggravated phases--first, desertion, and secondly, desertion in face of the
enemy. I know nothing of the punishments by the commandant of the Castle; never
visited it in my life that I know of. In all sentences of court-martial the
lashes were laid on except in one instance.
<ar118_909>
Lieut. PETER CALLAHAN sworn.
By Captain ALEXANDER:
Question. What is my conduct toward the prisoners? Answer. Your conduct toward the prisoners
has been as kind as it well could be under the circumstances.
Question. What is my conduct toward visitors? Answer. I always thought your conduct
gentlemanly.
Question. One of the witnesses swore that he saw fifteen men bucked and gagged
in the prison; did you ever see such punishment? Answer. I never did, and never heard of a
man being gagged there. I do not regard bucking as adding anything to the
disgrace of a man who lays himself liable to be put in Castle Thunder.
Question. How do you know that these men were guilty of any crime? Innocent men
are sometimes put there. Were those men that were bucked found guilty of any
crime? Answer. I do not know that they were. I
have seen soldiers in the Army more severely punished than at Castle Thunder.
Have heard of men standing on a barrel all day with the word "thief" written on
their backs by order of their officers. Men are often bucked in the Army and
tied up by the thumbs.
Question. What is the condition of Castle Thunder? Answer. I believe it is very good.
Question. You inspect the prison every morning? Answer. Almost every morning.
Question. Then it would be impossible for a man to lie his filth behind the door
without you knowing it? Answer. It certainly would be difficult.
FREDERICK F. WILEY sworn.
By Captain ALEXANDER:
Question. How long have you been at the Castle? Answer. Ever since it was established.
Question. How long have you known me? Answer. Ever since you escaped from Fort
McHenry.
Question. What is the condition of the prison? Answer. As clean as such a place can be
kept.
Question. What is the position of your room? Answer. Where I can hear any conversation
in the prisoners' room.
Question. What language have you heard Kirby use? Answer. I have heard him curse General
Winder and yourself and other officials.
Question. Did I ever do anything with him? Answer. No; although it was reported to
you.
Question. Is there a cell in the Castle that a man cannot stand up erect in? Answer. No; there is not.
Question. What about the whipping? Answer. I have seen eight men whipped
without order of the court-martial and by order of General Winder. <ar118_910>
Question. How many lashes did they receive? Answer. I don't think they received six
lashes apiece. Some of them were Yankee deserters and I have no doubt some of
them were Confederate soldiers.
Question. Were all these men concerned in the beating of the old man who died? Answer. The prisoners pointed them out and
they were their accusers.
Question. What authority had General Winder or anybody else to whip a soldier on
his bare back? Answer. I don't know, sir.
Question. Do you know anything about prisoners being put out in the back yard? Answer. Yes; they were put out there. They
had fire and some of them had blankets. It was cold weather and the wood must
have been furnished them or they could not have got it. There were about sixty
men in the yard. Captain Alexander ordered me to pick out any that were sick and
I picked out a number. The second night I picked out a number more who were
sick.
Question. Were all these men guilty of attempting to blow up the building? Answer. I don't know, sir.
Question. Is it reasonable to suppose these men would blow up the building and
themselves with it? Answer. There are men without one
redeeming trait in their character; would be guilty of any crime from murder
down.
-----
TUESDAY,
April 28, 1863.
The testimony for the defense was continued.
FREDERICK F. WILEY recalled.
By Captain ALEXANDER:
Question. Do you know the characters of McAlister, Shehan and Adams? Answer. I was informed some months ago
that they had made a rope to escape; went to McAlister's cell and asked him for
it. He said he had none, and I made a search. McAlister resisted with a spade or
shovel. The other had a razor and the other had a ball and chain. I defended
myself and drew a pistol. I found the rope in McAlister's bag. These are the
characters of men we have to deal with. I would not believe McAlister on oath.
One-third of the blankets distributed there I believe are cut up to make ropes
wherewith to escape. Men are brought there sometimes with plenty of clothing and
blankets and if we were not careful they would all be stolen for the above
purpose.
Question. What do you think of Caphart? Answer. I think him one of the best
officers I ever saw. If you give him an order he will carry it out. I have
roomed with him and consider him a kind-hearted man. I never saw him strike a
man unless he had cause.
Question. On the night the prisoners were put into the yard were not those who
looked sick taken back? Answer. Yes; by your order and I helped to
select them.
Question. Do you remember people on the street being in danger from missiles
thrown from the windows? Answer. Yes; and the mayor sent down word
that it must be stopped.
Question. Did you not report the conduct of prisoners to the commanding general? Answer. Yes; and he sent an order to have
the guilty whipped. <ar118_911>
Question. Have I not always expressed solicitude for the sick? Answer. Yes; you supplied many of them
with clothing obtained from the battlefields around Richmond. Men are brought
there very badly off for clothing.
Question. Do you know Mr. Riggs? Answer. Yes, sir; I know him.
Question. Did you ever see him drunk? Answer. Yes; very drunk and abusive to you
in your office. You said you would discharge him but for his wife and children.
Question. Do you recollect the time Riggs went into the citizens' room? Answer. I have known Riggs to be in there
with the prisoners, disloyal persons, Unionists, &c., up to midnight,
associating with them, drinking whisky. My room adjoins the citizens' room and I
can hear everything said.
Question. Do you think Captain Alexander a cruel man? Answer. No, sir.
Question (by Captain ALEXANDER). How did I treat my soldiers I took down to the
army? Answer. Better than most of them in the
army.
Question. Was the Yankee who was shot running in the direction that he could
escape? Answer. The steps he was running up lead
to a porch from whence he could have escaped. (The witness related the
circumstances of the escape of the prisoner from the Libby Prison and his
reception at the Castle for safe-keeping.) I did not know he was crazy and was
not told so. He called me to him before he died and asked my forgiveness for
anything against him. (Witness related the killing of Charles Car, roll, alias
Byzer, over the portico while attempting to escape.) I believe Campbell was the
cause of his death as he got Carroll to draw the fire of the guard so he could
get out unharmed.
Question. How long have you been at the prison? Answer. Since its establishment.
Question. How many men have you seen whipped there without court-martial? Answer. Only eight. They were whipped for
beating an old man sixty years of age from which he liked to have died, and for
stealing. There is no order to take the money or valuables of prisoners. If they
want to give them up we take them and give them receipts. This was until
recently.
Question. What is the condition of the yard? Answer. It is a hard dirt floor or clay.
By Captain ALEXANDER:
Question. It appears from the evidence that one man was tied up by the thumbs. Answer. Yes; the only man I ever saw and
by your order I lowered him down. His offense was stealing money and beating a
negro.
Question. Did I not punish a man for punishing a servant without my order? Answer. Yes; your orders are to that
effect.
Lieutenant BOSSIEUX sworn.
By Captain ALEXANDER:
Question. Do you remember the putting of some men in the yard? Answer. In one instance a number were in
the yard for attempting to blow up the building with powder. The first night
others attempted to cut out. I staid there with the guard and caught fifteen
when they came out. It was very pleasant <ar118_912> weather. On another
occasion when some men were in the yard there came up a storm and I notified Mr.
Ward and they were taken in. On another occasion four Yankees were put out, and
it snowed. They were taken in.
Question. Do you think me a cruel man? Answer. No, sir; I do not.
Question. Are not the doors of the cells often left open? Answer. Yes; I have opened them myself
often.
Question (by Mr. WARD). What is your opinion of the character of the men there? Answer. Yes; there are some of the worst
men in the world and I don't believe there is an hour that they are not
concocting some plan to escape. I don't think they could be managed with less
strictness.
Question. Do you know of a cell a man cannot stand up in? Answer. No, sir.
Question. You never knew of any secret punishment? Answer. No, sir; the prisoners are
generally brought out where all can see them.
Question. What month was it the men were put into the yard? Answer. It was pleasant weather. I was out
all that night without my overcoat. They staid there two days and the third day
they were taken up.
Question. Do you know of any whipping? Answer. I have heard of whipping; never
saw it. The whipping was by order of court-martial and was laid on by the
corporal of police of the Castle.
Question. Do you know any punishment not of an ordinary character? Answer. I recollect one circumstance. It
was two men tied up to a post. Don't know whether by the thumbs or the wrists.
Was told it was for robbing some prisoners upstairs. Don't know how long they
remained in that position.
Question (by Captain ALEXANDER). Do you remember me telling you once to abstain
from shooting some whose intended escape we had discovered? Answer. Yes.
Question (by the COMMITTEE). What are your instructions in regard to prisoners
putting their heads out of the windows? Answer. We warn them and if they persist
the sentinels fire over them. I remember when on Franklin street some of the
prisoners threw the sashes out of the windows and tried to hit some of my men.
They also threw bricks from the front windows. They climbed to the chimney and
took bricks and threw them down.
Question. How many men have been shot by your guard? Answer. None by guard. I only know of two
shot there at all, the crazy Yankee and the man Carroll. We could have shot a
hundred men there if the sentinels had been so disposed.
Question (by Captain ALEXANDER). Then you think if the prisoners behave
themselves they will be well treated? Answer. Yes, I do; I know it.
GEORGE W. WAYMACK, a prisoner, sworn.
By Captain ALEXANDER:
Question. Do you think a man put in the Castle if he behave well would he not be
treated well? Answer. I do.
Question. Did you ever see any act of cruelty there? Answer. I never did, sir. <ar118_913>
Question. When you were sick did I not let you go home? Answer. You did.
Question. When before the court-martial did I not act as your counsel? Answer. Yes; you did.
Question (by the COMMITTEE). Where are you from? Answer. I am from Manchester and am in the
Castle on the charge of desertion.
-----
WEDNESDAY,
April 29, 1863.
Judge BAXTER sworn.
Question. Judge, state what you know of the condition and treatment of
prisoners. Answer. Captain Alexander has sent for me
to examine into such cases as presented mitigating circumstances and recommended
their discharge or detention as the case might be. I have opportunities of
seeing Captain Alexander and the prisoners. My belief is that he is peculiarly
qualified to control such a body. I think his course has been one of great
humanity. At his suggestion I have discharged prisoners. There have been cases
of wrong imprisonment and hardship. The management of the prison my belief is
has been conducted with ability and by measures of stringency required by the
character of the prisoners. What was the police regulations of the cells I don't
know.
Question. Do you know Kirby? Answer. I was once at the prison for the
purpose of examining into cases and Kirby was in the room, and I requested him
to leave and he complained. Captain Alexander had indulged him, so as to exclude
him from the mass of prisoners.
Question (by Captain ALEXANDER). Judge, do you think I am a cruel man? Answer. I would rather take you to be a
kind man but firm and resolute and not disposed to allow any of your orders to
be transgressed.
Here testimony closed.
Testimony of DENNIS O'CONNOR--Continued. Prisoner is still required to report every
morning at Castle Thunder upon parole. Mr. F. F. Wiley, an officer in Castle
Thunder, cursed and abused witness this morning; charged him with being a thief.
The abuse was caused by witness having been called upon to testify before the
committee. Wiley has been in the habit of abusing witness. He told Wiley that he
was in his power and compelled to submit to his abuse. Wiley cursed the Irish
generally and is in the habit of abusing prisoners who do not report upon their
comrades. Witness is acquainted with Lieutenant Bossieux; don't know what
character he bears. At one time he heard Mr. Wiley curse a prisoner who was in
irons. Witness intended to join Captain Rodgers' com-party, Robertson's
battalion; denies having voted in the election for officers; never joined
Nineteenth Mississippi Regiment; never was a substitute for any one.
Testimony of Capt. W. N. STARKE----Continued. Witness states that he has been assigned
to duty by General Winder for the purpose of investigating all cases of
political, citizen and military prisoners and of obtaining all the necessary
evidence in relation thereto. Has been in the office but a short time and the
failure to bring to trial or discharge many prisoners is attributed to the
difficulty in obtaining the necessary evidence both for the prosecution and
defense. Witness has been in the prison several times and found it well
regulated and cleanly.
W. N. STARKE, «58 R
R--SERIES II, VOL V» <ar118_914>
Mr. RIGGS' testimony--Continued.
Question. State what you know of Mr. Wiley's treatment of prisoners. Answer. It is brutal in my opinion. He
cursed Webster who was hung the other day while Webster was in double irons. His
language is brutal to prisoners, in my opinion.
Question. Was any complaint ever made to Captain Alexander or any report ever
made in regard to Wiley's treatment of prisoners? Answer. I don't know.
Question. You being there as acting assistant warden do you not think it was
your duty to report all such things? Answer. You told me to make reports in
writing. I did not consider it my duty.
Question. Did you not curse the guard on one occasion? Answer. I have no recollection of so
doing.
STATEMENTS TAKEN UNDER OATH AND MADE BEFORE ROBERT D. WARD, ATTORNEY.
Statement of Lewis J. Blankenship.
Question. How long have you been in Castle Thunder? Answer. I came about the 29th of July,
1862, and have been wardmaster of the hospital most of the time.
Question. State whether you know that Kirby had a conversation with McAllister,
Adams and Shehan in regard to giving testimony before the Congressional
committee. If so state all you know about it. Answer. On the day that Mr. Kirby was
subpoenaed to go before this committee Mr. Shehan sent down into No. 4 room and
got James McAlister out and asked me to pass him into No. 2 hospital with Mr.
Kirby, and there all three of these men consulted over the evidence which they
were to give before the committee. Mr. Shehan made a statement of his evidence
which he was going to testify to before the committee; wrote it out and gave it
to McAlister. Mr. Shehan also wrote out Mr. Kirby's evidence and gave it to
McAlister, and McAlister gave his evidence to Shehan and Kirby. Each one of the
three had a written statement of the testimony which they proposed to give
before the committee. The morning that Mr. Adams was summoned to go before the
committee Mr. Shehan took Mr. Adams into Mr. Kirby's room, and he and Mr. Kirby
told Adams what they had testified to, and they wanted Mr. Adams to come as near
as he could stating the same things before the committee, and also told him as
near as they could their own testimony and requested him to repeat the same as
near as he could.
Question. Do you think there was a combination on the part of these men to
injure Captain Alexander if possible? Answer. I do, sir. I know that from the
conversation they have had with me.
Question. State what conversation you allude to. Answer. I have heard Mr. Shehan say that
Captain Alexander was nothing but a God damned loafer; that he in tended to get
him out of here if he possibly could; that nobody suited this place but Mr.
Riggs, and that if Mr. Riggs were captain of this prison he could get out
whenever he pleased; that Captain Alexander was not fit to nave command of a
parcel of hogs. Long before this committee was appointed I have heard McAlister
say that Captain Alexander had done all he could to have him shot and that if he
ever had it in his power he would have his revenge out of him. About two days
before he was summoned he said every dog had his day and that his day had just
come. Mr. Kirby, Mr. Shehan and McAlister all knew that the committee was going
to enter into the examination of Castle Thunder, and the three wrote a letter to
Mr. Riggs about the committee before it was appointed and after Mr. Riggs had
been discharged from Castle Thunder. I don't know that Mr. Riggs ever got the
letter but I am confident the letter went out of the building by private hands.
That letter stated that.a committee was going to be appointed to examine into
things here at Castle Thunder and they wished him to lay the letter before
Congress, and if he did not like to do it himself to give it to Mr. Bland, the
hospital steward. <ar118_915>
Question. State what was the character of these men. Answer. In regard to McAlister I staid in
No. 4 room with him for about four weeks, and during the time I was in the room
I don't think a night passed that some robbery of clothes, hats, shoes or money
was not committed by some one in the adjacent large room and handed to McAlister
through a crack or hole which he had cut through the partition which separated
the two rooms, and received by him and sold by him whenever he got opportunity
to sell. Frequently these stolen things were handed to McAlister through the
crack by Shehan; who was then on his parole and acting as corporal of the police
about the building. I don't know anything dishonest about Mr. Kirby, but I know
of Mr. Adams having stolen a pair of boots and selling them to McAlister;and
also he stole four sheets out of the hospital which I found in his knapsack. He
also stole a blanket from the hospital which I also found in his possession.
Question. What is the conduct of the men generally who have been in Castle
Thunder? Answer. The largest proportion of the men
are real rascals, guilty of cutting the building for the purpose of escaping,
fighting, abusing each other, committing robberies and bribery of sentinels.
Question. Have you seen any punishments inflicted in this prison? Answer. None, sir, but what I thought were
well deserved. I saw a man of Wheat's battalion whipped for desertion by
sentence of court-martial. I heard Captain Alexander tell him he was sorry to
have it to do, but he was obliged to do it. Samuel Lebrick, the name of the man
who was whipped, shook hands with the corporal of the police and asked him for a
drink of whisky, which was given him by order of Captain Alexander. He was
whipped very lightly.
Statement of J. B. Evans.
Question. How long have you been in Castle Thunder? Answer. I have been here about ten weeks.
Question. Do you know of any combination among the prisoners to injure the
reputation of Captain Alexander in any manner? If so please state it. Answer. I saw Shehan, Adams and McAlister
before they went before the committee go to Mr. Kirby and they asked him what
they should say before the committee. I have heard McAlister and Adams both say
that they would swear to anything to injure the captain. Adams said that if he
had one more chance to go before the committee he would swear that Captain
Alexander was always drunk.
Question. What is the character of these men? Answer. They are of a desperate character.
Adams told me he had been in the penitentiary twice. I have heard Shehan say
that he has received money from prisoners to get them out when he was corporal
of the police, and I heard Adams say that he had taken $50 from Captain Callan.
I heard McAlister send word to Kirby to have him summoned; that he would like to
have a chance to swear against the captain. He would do all he could to injure
him.
Question. Do you know whether Mr. Kirby ever sent out letters privately from the
building? Answer. Yes; I have seen him send them out
and receive them through private sources.
STATE OF VIRGINIA, City of Richmond, to wit:
I, Robert D. Ward, do certify that the foregoing statements made by Lewis J.
Blankenship and J. B. Evans were sworn to by them respectively before me. Given
under my hand this 28th day of April, 1863.
R. D. WARD,
<ar118_916>
WALKER'S ARTILLERY BATTALION,
[Capt. G. W. ALEXANDER.]
DEAR CAPTAIN: The summons of Hon. C. C. Herbert directing me to appear before
the special committee of Congress on the 23d instant did not reach me until
yesterday, the 25th instant. I immediately applied for leave of absence to
enable me to obey the summons but found that no officer of the army will be
allowed to take the cars except upon the special order of General Lee.
My application for two days leave, inclosing the summons, has been forwarded
through the regular channels to General Lee and it will be over a week before it
can be heard from. I fear that the deliberations of the committee will be closed
before I can obtain permission to leave camp.
If you think it important for me to appear before the committee without delay
you might procure an order from the Secretary of War directing my immediate
appearance.
If the committee anticipates remaining in session over a week please advise me
of the fact and I will go down as soon as General Lee's permit is received.
I assure you it will afford me pleasure to bear testimony to the systematic and
able manner in which you have managed the provost prison under your charge and
to the humanity and kindness with which you have treated the prisoners in your
custody.
You have the greatest talent for controlling and managing desperate characters,
and I have often said that I do not believe there is another man in the Southern
Confederacy who can fill your present position.
Hoping that the report of the committee will triumphantly vindicate you, as it
will do from the malicious charges which have been preferred against you,
I remain, your friend,
GREENLEE DAVIDSON.
-----
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF HENRICO,
Captain ALEXANDER.
SIR: In reply to your communication I state that in consequence of the violent
proceedings of the prisoners in blowing up the building, garroting and using
slung-shots upon the newly-arrived prisoners, robbing and endangering their
lives, I gave you orders to punish these ruffians severely and if necessary to
resort to corporeal punishment.
Respectfully,
JNO. H. WINDER,
-----
Captain Alexander's Defense.
CASTLE THUNDER, Richmond, April 13, 1863.
To the Honorable Committee of the House of Representatives, C. S. A., for the
investigation of Castle Thunder.
GENTLEMEN: Bonaparte said that "the first requisite in an officer was health,
the second temper; without the first the second is seldom <ar118_917> found, and
without the second a good officer, mingling the gentleman with the commander,
cannot exist." The elephant is never won with anger, Nor should the man who would reclaim the
lion Take him by the teeth.
There is nothing so degrading to an officer of rank as an intemperate reprimand,
and before his inferiors. If he be respectful, as he would have others respect
him, and forgets not that he is a gentleman, his conduct is said to have
merited the rebuke from his not having defended it. If both parties lose their
temper a court-martial follows and neither party gains by the result. To make a
good officer a man must be a gentleman, and they are inseparable. The man who
cannot command his tongue is the worst man to intrust with any command. The
supercilious and the arrogant always meet from men endowed with common sense the
contempt such frivolity deserves.
So much for my opinion of a man placed at the head of any public affair. Now, I
will proceed to state in as concise a manner as possible my views which I
respectfully submit to your honorable notice. This subject I feel I cannot
handle, although fraught with some interest to you and much anxiety to me. When
this cruel war was forced upon us on the secession of Virginia I was among the
first to resign from the old Navy and take up arms. I chose the Army, and
shouldering my musket enrolled myself as a private. My career and advancement
since then is known. I followed my unfortunate leader far within the enemy's
lines, never questioning an order, but obeyed all; never asking, where go
we? We fell. I suffered; but, thank God, escaped from the tyranny of the
"usurper of rights" and have tried to deal them some good blows. My injuries
placed me in command of this post. Here I have tried to do my duty, and no
matter what may be said or done you cannot keep this strong right arm idle; it
shall work either as an officer or private until we achieve what we are all
struggling for--the vindication of a sacred right--self government. I trust I
have clearly demonstrated to this honorable body the character of the men who
have been committed to my care--the murderer the robber, the deserter, the
substitute deserter, the pickpocket, and Worst of all the skulker--the man who
by his skulking endangers his comrades, therefore worse than the murderer--the
spy, the reconstructionist, the disloyal; all, all that are inimical to our
glorious cause are thrust upon me. Why? Because this Castle is the only
penitentiary the Confederacy has. I have proved that rules and regulations were
regularly distributed; that they were repeatedly told that punishment would
follow a persistency in wrong-doing; that the place only acquired a bad name by
the conduct of the fiends that inhabited it, and that punishment was only
resorted to when it became absolutely necessary and it had become unsafe for a
man to enter the wards. I have proved that while our noble army was in the field
subsisting on corn these fiends were being fed on full rations and then would
refuse positively to rejoin their suffering comrades, and could only be forced
there at the point of a bayonet.
That some men were whipped on the back is true. Does it appear in the
voluminous evidence that there was a single man not by the order of a
court-martial or one from a State represented by any representative in our
legislative halls? It was represented by one of the witnesses that men were tied
up by the thumbs and gagged. The witness, who by the way was proven to have been
discharged from his place for "moral incapacity," is certainly mistaken, or saw
it in one of his drunken <ar118_918> dreams, for it does not appear in the
evidence,
and I say it is not so. In fact I think that if those horrid brutalities
existed the witnesses or whoever made the statement were very culpable to report
them only when they were turned disgracefully away from this place. A man who
knows a wrong to exist and reports it not is more guilty than the wrong-doer. I
might here state that evidence also shows that when the hordes of the invader
threatened close [to] our walls I did not rest safe within but threw myself into
the breach, and when the smoke of battle receded and we were again free from
their accursed presence I turned my attention to the care of those brave men who
shed their blood in our defense and who, maimed, were borne to my doors. Many
remember the little hospital of the "Angel of Mercy" where thirty beds were
always kept and the brave were cared for by a pale little Virginia woman--my
wife. Do the records show the loss of a single limb or life from that hospital
or do they show a single bill paid by the Confederate States Government for its
support? I do not like, gentlemen, to recount these things, but I am a stranger
to you and I would rather you would condemn me to be shot than to promulgate
upon such evidence as you have had before you from your legislative halls that I
am cruel. There are men in your honorable body who know me and know my career.
All men conversant with military law know that if a man persists in passing a
sentry without the countersign he risks his life. That two men have been shot
here is also true; one an Irishman who substituted for a gentleman from Halifax,
and the same night deserted while in sight of the enemy, afterwards captured,
locked up here and persisting in an attempt to escape was killed. Another, a
Yankee, who rushing past the sentry attempted to fly by the back
entrance--killed; they say he was crazy. The sentry did not know it nor I; or I
might for I believe one-half of them are crazy.
I have demonstrated here before this honorable committee that some characters
that have been committed here to my charge have been without a redeeming point.
I have appealed in every way to them until at last endurance was worn out and
corporeal punishment did much good. Does it appear from the evidence that
Southern volunteers were ever struck except by Officer Causey in self-defense?
The committee have been made aware of the immense number of prisoners I have
handled--thousands--and yet it appears that only about twenty have been
punished. Does that look cruel?
Are not soldiers in camp when guilty of little peccadilloes bucked and made to
ride a cannon or a wooden horse? These fiends are only bucked; is that
comparison cruel? This being a receptacle for all that is bad would I not have
been justifiable had I been present when that master-fiend Webster, who expiated
his crimes on the gallows, contemplated murder and attempted to escape to have
shot him or ordered my guard to do so?
Have I not proven by the very prisoners themselves whom I have taken ad
libitum that the character of many of the prisoners is terrible and that I
have been lenient? Have I not proven that I have done many acts of kindness and
charity--yea, many, far outnumbering the alleged cruelties? Have [ not proven
that the only witnesses who seem to think I have been the least cruel knew of
these things before and only reported them when they had been sent away from
prison as being no further of any use? Have I not proven my vigilance and strict
adherence to right and my energy in carrying out all orders of my superiors?
Have I not proven my economy and personal supervision to prevent extravagance or
waste of all Government stores <ar118_919> committed to my charge? Have I not
proven that by my own individual exertions I have clothed many prisoners who
were being sent to the field? When as some of the witnesses say were men exposed
to the weather? Have I not proven their infernal character, and were not their
comrades at that time whom they had shamefully deserted fighting our battles and
sleeping on the cold ground without tent or other cover than the canopy of
heaven?
I would here say a few words about the witnesses examined. Mr. Bland, a hospital
steward, whom it appears from the evidence was a man not fit to be about a
public institution; his depravity was such that he was disgracefully ordered
away. He says he was five months in a Yankee prison and saw better treatment. I
rather think that that argues badly for Mr. Bland, for while I was a prisoner
among that hateful people the only one I saw treated well was one who
sycophant-like courted favor at their hands. I was kept in a cell seven by four
for three weeks, that cell underground and no window; moreover prisoners of war
are entitled to better treatment than murderers, deserters, spies, &c.
Witness No. 2. Kirby, the spy. I hardly think it fair to take prisoner's
evidence; but I waive that and challenge the whole prison. His evidence shows
that although he is incarcerated as that most hateful of all things, a spy, yet
he is put in the best room in the Castle, has a fire, good bed and is allowed to
purchase anything from the outside that he may require. Oh I gentlemen, does
this look cruel? And then he is only removed from this room when the true
instincts of the beast were developed and he proves to be a lowborn blackguard.
Witness No 3. One Adams, who served out a term in the penitentiary, was pardoned
during a second term and deserted in sight of the enemy.
Witness No. 4. A man who will not tell where he is from and is sentenced to
three years' imprisonment.
Witness No. 5. Shehan, a deserter, a man who has broken his parole and since he
has given his evidence has again deserted his comrades. One or two others close
the list and the least said about them the better.
Gentlemen, I leave the matter in your hands, well satisfied the action you take
will be just action. I stand before the people and press of this country and
invite at any time the strictest investigation.
I am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
G. W. ALEXANDER,
-----
Majority report of the committee of Congress to investigate the management of
Castle Thunder.
[RICHMOND,
May 1, 1863.]
The special committee to which was referred certain resolutions requiring
investigation into the management of Castle Thunder, a military prison in this
city, have instructed me to report that after a diligent examination of a large
number of witnesses your committee find that the prison as to cleanliness and
comfort has been well managed. Its discipline has been rigid, but good and
successful, and the general treatment of prisoners as humane as the
circumstances would allow. The evidence discloses some cases of severe corporeal
punishment; some prisoners have been whipped with the lash, the blows numbering
from five to twelve. This we condemn as inhuman <ar118_920> and inconsistent
with our system of government. But it does not appear that this punishment has
been inflicted except on persons of abandoned characters, and for such offenses
as stealing, fighting and abusing more helpless fellow-prisoners.
It should be observed also that this mode of punishment is common in military
prisons, and that all these cases happened before Congress had passed a law
prohibiting this mode of punishment in the Army. Some persons have been put out
of the prison into a walled yard and so confined for several days; and in one
instance two or three prisoners were allowed to remain out a short time in bad
weather. This we condemn, but it is proper to state that in one of these
instances the prisoners so punished had attempted to blow up or injure the
building by firing and exploding a canteen of powder, and all the prisoners in
that particular room were so taken to this yard, the object seeming to be to
force some of them to reveal the names of the ringleaders. It does not appear
that any of these persons suffered materially. In another instance of this yard
punishment the offense was beating a fellow-prisoner, an old man of sixty-five
years, so severely that he afterwards died from the effects of the beating.
Captain Alexander in excusing himself for these acts exhibits a statement signed
by General Winder in which he is directed to use corporeal punishment if
necessary to enforce discipline.
In one instance a sentinel discharged his gun at the window of the prison where
a prisoner was putting his head out in violation of rules and otherwise annoying
the sentinel. The ball struck the frame of the window and tore off some
splinters, which scarred the face of another prisoner standing near. This we
condemn as barbarous in the extreme, but the evidence discloses that the order
was not to shoot in such cases so as to endanger the person of the prisoner but
only to terrify him. Captain Alexander would say in the hearing and presence of
the prisoners that if they broke the rules by putting their heads out of the
window they should be shot, but he would instruct his sentinels not to shoot so
as to hurt but around the window so as to frighten.
Without pretending to review all the particular cases of punishment the
undersigned referring to the evidence in the case have come to the conclusion,
considering the nature of military prisons and especially in view of the
desperate and abandoned characters of the inmates of Castle Thunder who are
described by the witnesses as being in the main murderers, thieves, deserters,
substitutes, forgers and all manner of villains, that the management of it by
Captain Alexander has not been marked by such acts of cruelty and inhumanity as
to authorize his condemnation, but on the contrary we are satisfied that he has
exhibited such traits of character as in our opinion eminently fit him for such
a position. In the successful management of a military prison promptness and a
determination to enforce rigid discipline are essential and in these qualities
we conclude that Captain Alexander excels.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
W. B. SMITH.
AUGUSTUS R. WRIGHT.
D. C. DE JARNETTE.
-----
First minority report on the management of Castle Thunder.
[RICHMOND,
May 1, 1863.]
The undersigned, one of the special committee of five appointed under a
resolution of this House to investigate and report upon certain <ar118_921>
charges of cruelty and improper conduct on the part of Captain Alexander, the
keeper of the military prison known as Castle Thunder, begs leave respectfully
to report:
That the acts most complained of have been the killing of two prisoners, the
shooting at a third, the infliction of corporeal punishment by whipping on the
bare back and the confining of prisoners in the prison yard exposed to the
weather.
As to the two prisoners killed, one of them was a lunatic, a Yankee prisoner
brought to Castle Thunder from the Libby Prison and shot during the night of the
day on which he was brought there by a sentinel while the lunatic prisoner was
in the act of trying to pass said sentinel. The other was one who was out upon
the balcony at night attempting to escape; in this attempt he was shot by a
sentinel. The third case of shooting was also by a sentinel at one of the
prisoners who was violating orders by putting his head out of a window
overlooking the street. This shot did not take effect, though it appears it may
have done so as the contents of the gun were lodged in the facing of the window.
This appears to have been done in conformity with instructions from Captain
Alexander, that such as put their heads out of the window were to be fired upon.
In the judgment of the undersigned this remedy was not justifiable, though
alleged to have been intended only as intimidation. The offense was such as
could have been sufficiently punished by measures less hazardous to life and
limb; the identification of the offender which no doubt could easily have been
effected would have put it in Captain Alexander's power to have applied ample
corrections and yet in such manner as not to have endangered the life or limb of
the prisoner.
As to the whipping: On two occasions Captain Alexander ordered one or two men
each to be whipped on the bare back. On another occasion he ordered some eight
men to be similarly punished. In all these cases the punishment was inflicted
without the intervention of a court-martial. In this in the opinion of the
undersigned Captain Alexander was again in fault. The punishment in the two
first cases was for fighting and general insubordination, offenses which it
would appear might have been adequately punished without subjecting the
prisoners to such humiliating infliction.
The other case it is true was more aggravated, to wit, a combination on the part
of the offenders for the maltreatment of an aged prisoner recently brought to
the prison. It appears Captain Alexander had instructions from General John H.
Winder to use this kind of punishment when necessary. Still the undersigned
thinks General Winder's instructions were not a sufficient warrant for resort to
a mode of punishment unsupported by law and so odious to our people. And even
had General Winder's instructions been sufficient authority for the use of such
punishment its application should have been tempered with such discretion as to
have prevented the infliction of this extraordinary punishment except in cases
where other punishments not so revolting would have been inadequate.
As to exposing prisoners in the yard this was resorted to on three occasions;
one time against two persons for fighting; at another time against fifteen or
twenty for fighting and general insubordination; at another against eighty or a
hundred, the inmates of the same room, because some one or more had ignited a
flask of gunpowder causing it to explode under such circumstances as induced the
belief that there had been an attempt to blow up a portion of the prison
building and thus enable prisoners to escape. Without stopping to discuss
whether Captain Alexander was right or wrong in punishing all in that room
<ar118_922> indiscriminately it may be remarked generally and with equal force
as to persons guilty or innocent that this mode of punishing (long exposure to
weather in winter) is improper, because it cannot be measured and assigned with
that definiteness which should characterize all punishment. One thus punished
for so simple an offense as a fisticuff might have entailed upon him permanent
loss of health if not loss of life. Hence the undersigned thinks this treatment
was either no punishment at all in consequence of mildness of the weather or if
the weather was severe enough to make the punishment felt it might continue in
fact long after it was intended and entirely beyond Captain Alexander's control.
Upon the general conduct of Captain Alexander as resting on the mere opinion of
witnesses there was some difference. Some of the witnesses charged great
severity and cruelty, but it should be also stated that when this class of
witnesses were pressed for facts to sustain their opinion they referred
principally to the facts above recited. On the other hand it is but just to
Captain Alexander to say the testimony was both satisfactory and abundant that
the prison in everything relating to its sanitary condition and the general
comfort of its inmates was well kept; that Captain Alexander to the mass of the
prisoners is as kind and indulgent as could be expected or desired, in many
cases allowing prisoners to send out and get better supplies than are furnished
in their rations. The undersigned thinks the above contains a fair summary of
the most material portions of the testimony, speaking from impressions as made
during the progress of the investigation, not having since examined the
manuscript, it having gone immediately into the hands of the printer.
The conclusion of the undersigned therefore is that in view of the great and
delicate responsibility devolved upon the keeper of such a prison, embracing
among its inmates the most lawless and desperate characters, while it may be
much regretted that such modes of punishment were used he is yet not prepared to
recommend Captain Alexander's dismissal. The undersigned thinks the infliction
of corporeal punishment as administered by Captain Alexander was illegal and
improper; that the punishing by exposing prisoners to the weather was improper
and unwarranted, and that the order to shoot at those at the window was also
unjustifiable. But inasmuch as it is not known that any serious consequences
have resulted from any of these acts, and inasmuch as they appear to have been
resorted to by Captain Alexander not from any wantonness or cruelty but from a
desire to maintain proper discipline and perhaps from an erroneous conception of
his rights and powers as keeper of such a prison, the undersigned recommends
that no further action be taken by the House.
There is one other fact in connection with this prison which should be remarked
upon but for which Captain Alexander from the testimony does not seem to be
responsible. It is that persons are sometimes arrested and incarcerated there
for days and weeks and sometimes for months without being either brought to
trial or even having charges preferred against them; sometimes confined simply
under virtue of orders of superior officers "till called for." It is true this
evil does not seem to exist to any great extent but it is an infringement of
personal liberty and the exercise of unauthorized power which should meet no
encouragement and which should be abolished.
Respectfully submitted.
W. D. SIMPSON,
<ar118_923>
Second minority report on the management of Castle Thunder.
Hon. THOMAS S. BOCOCK,
The undersigned, a member of the special committee appointed under certain
resolutions of the House of Representatives directing the committee to
investigate the treatment of prisoners confined in the prison known as Castle
Thunder, in the city of Richmond, and make report to the House thereon, begs
leave to submit the following minority report:
The first resolution of the series adopted instructs the committee to inquire
and report "What punishment if any in violation of law has been inflicted upon
prisoners confined in Castle Thunder, the kind and character of punishment
inflicted by the officers of that prison?" It was proven by witnesses brought
before the committee that punishment of the most degrading and cruel character
had been inflicted at various times by order of the officer in charge of this
prison upon the prisoners confined therein. Some ten or twelve prisoners, all,
with the exception of two, Confederate soldiers, were by order of Brig. Gen. J.
H. Winder punished by lashes on the bare back. The offenses charged to have been
committed by them in violation of the prison rules were fighting and stealing.
The charges were preferred by their associates in the prison and the persons
selected for punishment were chosen with the permission of the officers by the
general vote of all the prisoners. In other words the parties making the charge
and acting as witnesses sat as jurymen upon the case instituted by themselves
and assessed the punishment. This novel and original method of enforcing the
discipline of a prison invented by the officer having control of Castle Thunder
deserves in my opinion the severest censure at the hands of Congress.
It was also in evidence before the committee that in the month of November one
hundred or more of the prisoners were sent out into the back yard of the prison
and kept there exposed to snow, rain and sleet, many of them having insufficient
covering and comparatively unprotected against the weather. This punishment was
inflicted by order of Captain Alexander to force from the prisoners a confession
of who amongst them had been guilty of placing some powder in a canteen.
It was also proven before the committee that upon various occasions prisoners
were punished by bucking, handcuffing and tying to a post with their arms
stretched as tightly as possible and kept in this position for hours.
Witnesses also testified that Captain Alexander had during extremely cold
weather refused fire to the prisoners and they were compelled to rely upon their
own ingenuity and their precarious resources inside of the prison to supply
fuel.
All the punishment inflicted except that by whipping was by order of Captain
Alexander. Upon one occasion a sentinel discharged his gun at a prisoner in one
of the windows and the splinters from the frame of the window wounded another
prisoner.
Upon the facts elicited by the examination before the committee the undersigned
is of the deliberate opinion that the punishments inflicted in Castle Thunder
have been not only degrading and cruel but barbarous and inhuman. It is no
excuse for the officers who are guilty of this conduct that Castle Thunder is a
military prison and its inmates frequently of desperate character. The object of
establishing and maintaining such an institution in the protection of society by
the confinement of persons dangerous to its peace. To effect this object it is
not necessary that men should be subjected to lashes, exposed to the <ar118_924>
inclemency of a severe climate, kept huddled together without fire and put to
the rack by having their muscles corded to extreme tension for hours together.
Firmness and promptness are very different from torture and inhumanity. The fact
that a man is confined in a military prison under charges of even the gravest
character is no justification for the officer who responsible alone for his
safe-keeping anticipates the functions of a court and punishes the prisoner in
advance of a trial.
The second resolution adopted by the House is as follows: "How many prisoners
have been killed, by whom and the circumstances under which they were killed?"
It was proved beyond any doubt before the committee that upon one occasion a
deranged prisoner whilst running up the steps into the main building of the
prison was shot by the sentinel and killed. Another prisoner was shot on the
balcony by one of the guard and killed after he had begged the sentinel not to
shoot. Under the circumstances attending both these cases the undersigned can
regard them in no other light than as deliberate and willful murders. The
unprotected and defenseless condition of a prisoner, confined and disarmed, no
matter what his moral character, should appeal strongly to the sympathy of any
man with proper sensibility, and to deprive him of life whilst in the condition
of a prisoner can only be justified by the most extreme danger of the prisoner's
escape. In neither of these cases did such danger exist. One of the victims was
insane, the other had abandoned any attempt to escape and was asking for mercy
when killed. There was no evidence before the committee that the sentinels
perpetrating these outrages had been punished by the officers in charge of the
prison.
From the foregoing specific instances and from the general tenor of the evidence
adduced before the committee the undersigned is of opinion that
Brigadier-General Winder and Captain Alexander, who have had the superintedence
of Castle Thunder, have shown a want of judgment and humanity in the management
of that prison deserving not only the censure of Congress but prompt removal
from the position they have abused. Not only were the charges of cruelty and
injustice sustained against Alexander by the evidence before the committee but
it was also shown that he had been partial in his treatment of the prisoners
under his charge and that some of his subordinates had imitated his example. It
is but just to state that Mr. Riggs, an officer of the prison, is entitled to
praise instead of censure for the course pursued by him, a course the more
commendable as it is so remarkable an exception to the cruelty practiced by his
superiors.
Captain Alexander and his friends and attorney were present at the examination
of witnesses and put such questions to the witnesses as they thought proper.
[This report, dated May 1, 1863, is unsigned but indorsed" Herbert."]
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