George W. Alexander and Castle Thunder : a Confederate prison and its commandant / Frances H. Casstevens.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Casstevens, Frances Harding.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Castle Thunder Prison (Richmond, Va.).

Alexander, George W., 1829-1895.

Alexander, George W.

Prison wardens--Virginia--Richmond--Biography.

Prison wardens.

Prison wardens--Confederate States of America--Biography.

Prisoners of war.

History.

United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Prisoners and prisons, Confederate.

United States.

Prisoners of war--Confederate States of America--History.

Prisoners of war--Virginia--Richmond--History--19th century.

Sailors--United States--Biography.

Sailors.

Virginia--Richmond.

Genre:

Biographies.

Physical Description:

viii, 271 pages : illustrations ; 26 cm

Other Title:

Confederate prison and its commandant

Place of Publication:

Jefferson, N.C. : McFarland & Co., [2004]

Summary:

Captain George W. Alexander was a controversial figure in Richmond during the Civil War, honored as a hero and condemned as a cruel prison superintendent. He was appointed Provost Marshall and put in charge of Castle Thunder in 1862, after escaping imprisonment at Fort McHenry. At his Confederate prison in Richmond, he oversaw prisoners of all types, including Confederates, women, slaves, Federal deserters, and spies. This biography traces his entire life from his career in the U.S. Navy and the voyage with Commodore Perry to Japan, to his hiding in Canada after Lee's surrender, to his editorship of Washington DC's Sunday Gazette and death in 1895. The main body of the text concentrates on Alexander's time at Castle Thunder, but the book also explores the evolution of the prison system and the provost marshall's department, touching on unusual prisoners and escape attempts. Appendix 1 is a partial list of prisoners at Castle Thunder and when, where, and why they were arrested. Appendix 2 is a transcript of the court martial of Private John R. Jones. Appendix 3 lists prisoners sent from Camp Holmes and appendix 4 is a report of Alexander as Assistant Provost Marshall. Appendix 5 is a pamphlet published by the Republican Party National Committee; it struck at the Democratic Party by scorning its "military prison keepers."

Contents:

1 Around the World with the United States Navy 7

2 Sailing for the Confederacy: The Capture of the St. Nicholas 17

3 Escape from Fort McHenry 26

4 Assistant Provost Marshal Alexander 32

5 New Prison Opened in Richmond 46

6 The Lighter Side: Alexander - Poet, Dramatist and Actor 55

7 Life Within the Castle: The Dark Side 61

8 Spies, Traitors and Hostages 74

9 General Hospital No. 13, "The Lunatic Hospital" 84

10 Escape Attempts 88

11 Cruel and Unusual Punishment vs. Standard Fare 97

12 The Congressional Investigation 107

13 The Verdict 119

14 The Washington Adventure: Alexander Plays at Spying 125

15 Under Fire Again 128

16 1864: Charlotte, Danville and Salisbury 132

17 The Final Months of the War, 1864-1865 144

18 After the Surrender 153

19 1870-1890 160

Appendix 1 Partial List of Inmates at Castle Thunder 169

Appendix 2 Transcript of Court Martial of Private John R. Jones 203

Appendix 3 List of Prisoners Sent from Camp Holmes in September 1863 207

Appendix 4 Morning Report of Captain G. W. Alexander, September 18, 1863 209

Appendix 5 The Military Prison Keepers of the Late Southern Confederacy, in the Van of the Democratic Party 213.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 257-263) and index.

ISBN:

0786418591

OCLC:

54822617