The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-10
Behind the Walls Of Great Prisons in the Civil War

crowded almost to overflow with pris-
oners OF State. spies, citizens suspect
ed OF dlsloyalty. and n few government
officials. 1t was here that the four
consPirators i'm the ASA ssination of
President Lincoln wero confined. ane
later were executed on the scaftold IN
the prison yard. Captain Wirz. keep.
err or Andcrsonvillc. also was executed
at this prison.
During tho war days the Old Capitol
prison was point of much interest to
sightseers, but they were ruthlessly
hurried on by guards stationed outside
the building when they halted for even
a moment on either side OF the street
Historic Prisons fn Richmond.
TIL, most famous prison In the south
was located at Richmond. 1t is his
corner of Twentieth and Cary Streets.
Before the war It had been william
Libby & Sons establishment where
they conducted 4 ship chambers bus
mess. II was n brick building three
stories high. The lower half OF the
structure was painted white, or white
washed
In this largo building ncnrly 1880
Fedcrals. mostly officers. were held
captive. 4 rude bathroom was In
stalled, and tho walls were white
washed. But the increasing number of
captivcs soon prevented svcn these
sanitary precautions.
Richmond also had provost prison.
which was known as Castle Thunder.
1t may have been this place 10 which
tho cavalier General Stuart rcferr I'd
when he sang his humorous song, MY
Wifc's in Castle Thunder II was a
;hrcc-gtory brick building, which had
been a tobacco factory.
Like the Old Capitol prison at Wash
inEton, a larss Confederate camp
prison was erected in sight of the
capitol OF the Confedcracy NJ Rich
mond. 1t was known as Belle Isle nnd
vas situated on that island In the
James River. The shelter consisted OF
tents intended 10 house 1000 prisoners.
but its burden frequently exceeded
5000.
QunInt Old Prisons in the West.
Among the nost famous prisons in
the West is Camp Morton. 1t was To-
Gated at indianapolis Ind, and was
first used as q camp OF instruction for
Indiana troops. The captured Confed :
crates from the battle fields OF Forts
Henry and Donelson, and later Western
battles. were brought here and Slaced
in the sheds where formerly horses and
cattle were housed during fair days
Many soldiers who were not accustomed
TO rigors of a Northern winter snc-
cumbed.
The old Rock Island prison stood
oppogits Davenport. Iowa, in the Mis-
sssippi River II was situated on the
island. which Is about three miles long
and half mile wide. Tho rccorqs
show that from 5000 10 5000 prisoners
We're held here at all times during the
war. Eighty-four harra cks wer, erect
cd for the confinement OF the captives,
and they were arranged in six rows OF
fourteen each. They were long. mar
row rambling buildings. measuring
twelve feet high, twenty-five wide and
ciehty-two lonS. Each end OF n bar
rack was Harti,ioned off 70 form cook
house. A scourSe of smallpox swept
the prisons and hospital was erected
at a cost or $4,000.
Chicago also has its prison memories.
Camp Douglas, an instruction camp In
that city. was turned into n prison to
hold the overflow. II holds the mortal
ity record for a single month losinS
10 per cont. (3ST) OF its inmates with
In that time. Camp Chase, at Column
bus. Ohio. and Camp Butler. at spring
field. H., were also hastily prepared
prisons much like Camp Morton in
layout.
ST Louis recalls many prison rem
iniscences on this send -ccmtennial The
Federal provost-prison in the West was
located on Gratiot Street. Formerly 81
had been the Mcdowell Medical Col
lego. built in 1877 b. Of. ]. ". Nc
Dowell. The capacity of this prison
was 500. but frequently 1t held over
1000. Til, inmates twice set fire 10
the building in hope to escape during
tho confusion Tunnelins, as in other
prisons, was resorted 10. but few es-
capes are recorded against this bas-
tile.
Hugo Prisons in the Far North.
The most Northern Of tho f'cderals'
prisons was that Of Fort Johnson. in
:Sandusky Ray. Lake Erie. about two
and half miles from the city of