Prison Life in the Old Capitol and Reminiscences of the Civil War

by James J. Williamson

INDEX

A
Adreon, George S., escape, [52].
Allsman, Andrew, [65], [66].
Ames, Lieut. James F., [156].
Andersonville (see Wirz).
Armand, William, [76], [77].
Ayre, George S., arrested, robbed and imprisoned, [44].
Hostage for Steers, [45].
B
Baker, Willis, [66].
Ballon, Sylvester, [143].
Baltimore, [12], [13].
Barnes, John H., [86], [88], [97], [102], [103], [104], [108], [113], [114], [118], [119].
Barrett, Boyd, [67], [73].
Bennett, ——, [119].
Tells mule story, [69].
Bixler, Lieut., at Parole Camp, [104].
Bixler, Morgan, [66].
Blockade runners, [38], [46], [47], [64], [75], [78], [79].
Bowles, Benjamin F., [104].
Boyd, Belle, Gus Williams tells of her imprisonment, [50].
Her remarkable career, [51].
Supt. Wood spoke of her, [52].
Brawner, Redmond F., imprisoned and family driven from home, [44].
Breckenridge, Major, [104].
Bribery, [37], [38], [52], [67].
Buell, Colonel, [85].
C
Camp Chase, prisoners tell of treatment there, [100], [101], [102].
Three little boys from, [67].
Camp Douglas, prisoners tell of cruel treatment and great mortality at, [100], [101], [104].
Verified by Official Records, [101].
Camp Parole, hardships at, [101].
Exchange of prisoners, [102].
Vermin, [105], [106].
Carr, John, sad experience, [60].
Dr. Green and his mules, [70].
Carroll Prison (Duff Green’s Row), [22], [75], [87].
Carter, H. Fitzhugh, [119].
Answers at roll-call, [81].
Also at “sick call,” [82], [83].
Chandler, ——, [119].
Charlie, our friendly contraband and our Ganymede, [53].
Children held as prisoners, [66], [67], [68], [87], [104].
City Point, Va., [95].
As it looked in spring of 1863, [96].
Clift, ——, [119].
Collision on railroad, [14].
Comastri, Marco, [61], [77], [119].
Commission to try State prisoners, [61], [69].
Congress and Cumberland, wrecks of, [91].
Cooke ——, [104].
D
Daily routine of prison life, [54].
Daniels, ——, [40], [41].
Darling, Captain, rumor of his escape, [52].
On flag-of-truce boat, [91].
Davis, ——, (blockade runner), [52], [119].
Davis, Hon. Jefferson, [122], [138], [139], [152].
Dead-lines, about, [131].
De la Baume, the Marquis, star witness against Wirz, [137].
Delano, Philemon, [119].
Delaplane (Piedmont), [117], [118].
Departure of prisoners, [84], [89].
Detectives and spies, [58].
Diary, in Old Capitol, [19].
At Camp Parole, [98].
Itinerary from Parole Camp to Upperville, [108].
Extracts from diary of Wirz, [147].
Doster, Colonel (provost-marshal), [32].
Duff Green’s Row—(see Carroll Prison).
Dula, Lowring, [119].
“Dutchy,” [29].
E
Early, General Jubal A., comments on Gen. Order No. 209, [125].
Efforts of Confederate authorities to relieve prisoners, [123].
To effect exchange, [124]-[6]-[7], [130].
Elk Licking Creek, [107].
Ennis, Mrs., the prisoners’ friend, [29].
Eorio, Peter, [61], [77], [78], [119].
Escapes from Old Capitol, Adreon and Captain Darling, [52].
Captain Wynne, [46].
Federal prisoners, [75].
Plans laid but defeated, [52].
Ewell, James, [79], [119].
Examination, provost-marshal, [20].
And search entering prison, [22].
By Colonel Buell, [85], [86].
By Colonel Wood, [72].
By Captain Parker, [39], [42].
Exchange of prisoners, Ould’s letter to Hitchcock, [123].
Letter to National Intelligencer, [124].
Report of Gen. Seymour, [126].
U. S. authorities did not want, [125].
Gen. Butler’s efforts frustrated, [126].
Southern authorities anxious for, [126].
Extracts from report Confederate Congress, [127]-[8]-[9], [130].
Execution by Gen. McNeil, [65], [66].
Of Wirz, [142], [143].
F
Fairfax Court House raid, [115].
Gen. Stoughton’s telegraph operator tells of his capture, [154], [155], [156].
Sergeant Ames (Big Yankee), [156].
Federal soldiers, prisoners for insubordination and deserters, [73].
Fifth New York Cavalry, what the chaplain said of Fairfax Court House raid, [156].
Fire, alarm in Old Capitol, [70], [71].
First Maryland Regiment, [14].
Fitzgerald, Edward, [119].
Flag-of-truce boat, steamer State of Maine, [90].
Flaherty, John, [63], [119].
Flaherty, Peter, [63], [119].
Fleggenheimer mourns the loss of his goods, [64].
Food, at Old Capitol, poor in quality and insufficient in quantity, [22], [26]-[7]-[8].
Providing our own rations, [27]-[8].
Rations at Camp Parole, [98]-[9], [103].
Ford, Miss Antonia, [87], [115].
Ford, Miss Belle, [115].
Ford, John, [119].
Fortress Monroe, [90], [91].
Fox, Lieut. Frank, at Parole Camp, [99], [102], [108], [110].
Lieut. Co. C, Mosby’s Men, [108].
Wounded and died, [108].
“Fresh fish,” [46].
Front Royal, [115], [116].
Fullerton, James, [30], [56], [57].
G
Gardner, —— (blockade runner), [52], [119].
General orders No. 209,
refusal to recognize paroles, [124].
Gen. Pope’s order licensing soldiers to plunder citizens, [45].
George, —— (blockade runner), [52], [119].
Goldsmith, John M., [60], [119].
Goose Creek, crossing under difficulties, [117], [118].
Gordonsville, [109].
Graves, Matt., [110], [111].
Green, —— (from Missouri), [119].
Guard house at Old Capitol, [59], [78], [79].
Gunnell House, Fairfax Court House, [155].
H
Hagan, ——, [119].
Hammett, George (blockade runner), [38], [52], [119].
Haskins, —— (from South Carolina), [67], [73].
Died of smallpox, [73].
Henry Burden, U. S. steamer, [97].
Hero, a young, [65].
Hertzog, ——, [119].
Higgins, Captain, [57].
Highland, ——, prison guard at Old Capitol, [87].
Very kind to prisoners, [87].
Hoffman, Mr., [115].
Holbrook, Thomas, an old schoolmate, [79].
A valuable addition to our mess, [79], [80].
To room No. 10, [86], [89], [119].
Hollenbaugh, William T., [119].
Hospital, [54].
Hostages, John B. Hunter, for Stiles, [32].
George S. Ayre, for Steers, [45].
Howe, Henry, my accuser, [40], [42].
Arrested in Richmond on charges, [40], [41].
How we passed the time, [47], [48].
Hoyle, George, [85], [89], [119].
Humston, Thomas, [66].
Hunter, John B., [32], [119].
No charge, but hostage for Stiles the guide, [60].
Hurst, Thomas, [31], [75], [119].
Hutson, Herbert, [66].
I
Imboden, Gen. John D., letter of, [134].
Not allowed to testify at trial of Wirz, [135].
Itinerary of journey from Parole Camp to Upperville, [108], [118].
J
James River, steaming up the, [94]-[5].
Jamestown, first settlement, [94].
Jenkins, ——, [119].
“John Morgan’s orderly,” [67.]
Johnson, James, robbed and imprisoned, [43], [119].
Johnson’s Island, prisoners tell of hardships and sufferings, [100]-[1].
Shooting prisoners, [101].
K
Keleher, John, [78], [85], [89], [119].
Kerfoot, James F., [44], [98], [119].
Kerney, Martin J., my old school-master, [79].
My schoolmates, [79].
Keys, J., [119].
King, Aaron J., [38], [119].
L
Lackey, ——, [119].
Ladies passing prison arrested and detained, [32], [38], [87].
Lair, Marion, [66].
Lake, Eleazer, [66].
Landstreet, Rev. Mr. (Confederate chaplain), [34].
Lee, Philip, [102], [108], [118], [119].
Lee, Thomas, gets his share of beans, [102], [103].
Mentioned, [108], [118], [119].
Letters all have to go through provost-marshal’s office, [30]-[1].
Ould to Hitchcock, [123].
To National Intelligencer, [124].
Gen. J. D. Imboden, [134].
To Wirz, from his wife, [144].
Wirz’s last to his wife and children, [145].
Rev. Father Boyle, [139], [140].
Lewis, Aaron, [79], [119].
“Lights out” (taps), [55].
We install our own lighting plant, [56].
Lindsay, ——, of Washington, leaves Parole Camp to join Co. K, Tenth Louisiana Regt., [105].
List of prisoners in Room 16, [119]-[121].
Littlepage, William T., [85], [89], [119].
Long, Reuben, [113].
Louisiana troops, [15].
Love, Henry, arrested, imprisoned, property taken or destroyed and no charge against him, [42], [78], [119].
Love, Llewellyn, [119].
Ludlow, Colonel, U. S. Commissioner of exchange, [97].
Luray, [114].
M
McNeil, Gen. John, his brutal execution of ten Confederate prisoners, [66].
McPheeters, John Y., [66].
MacWooster, takes us to Criglersville, [110].
Gives us good advice, [110].
Madison Court House, [110].
Manassas Gap railroad, along the old road on foot, [117].
Marchland, Judge, [119].
Marini, ——, witness in Wirz case, [137].
Martin, ——, [119].
Maryland, my native State, [12].
First Maryland Regiment, [14].
Marylanders in Richmond, [14].
Mess room in Old Capitol, [22], [26], [54].
Milani’s Gap in Blue Ridge, [111].
Mills, J., [102], [104].
Mills, William M., [102], [104].
Minor, Fairfax, [50], [119].
Won’t take chances where only one man is killed, [63].
Missouri State Militia, [66].
Mitchell, Captain, [75], [119].
Mitchell, Lieut. Hugh, [119].
Model Farm Barracks, [98], [108].
Montgomery, ——, [119].
Monument at Andersonville, [152].
Moore, ——, death of, [31].
Mosby, Col. John S., my first meeting with, [118].
Mount, Stephen R., [53], [119].
Mules at Manassas, [69].
Dr. Green and his mules, [70].
Mulford, Captain John E., [95], [97].
Mustered into Confederate service, [105].
N
Names of prisoners in room 16, [119].
Nelson, Lieut. Joseph H., [154].
New Jersey Regiment, Tenth, prison guard at Old Capitol, [35].
Newport News, [91].
New York Regiment, Third, Co. K, guard on truce boat, [91].
O
Oath, copy of iron-clad, [23].
At Old Capitol prisoners take it and say it is not binding, [62].
“The Oath”—parody on Hamlet’s soliloquy, [62].
O’Brien, Edward H., [82], [119].
Oeser, Felix (see De la Baume).
Off for Dixie, [89].
Old Capitol Prison, description and history, [20], [22], [24]-[5].
Escape of prisoners, [52].
My first night, [25].
Old men, women and children, [80].
Overcrowded, 39 in room 16, bunks for 21 only, [68], [69].
Prisoners in close confinement, [42].
Room No. 10, [86], [87].
Rooms 14 to 18, [25], [42], [69], [84].
Room 16, [24], [26], [28], [30].
Shooting of prisoners, [35], [37].
Old age no exception or exemption, [80].
Ould, Robert, Confederate agent of exchange, [97].
Letter to Federal agent, [123].
To National Intelligencer, [124].
Called as a witness for Wirz, but not allowed to testify, [136].
P
Parker, Captain, [38], [42], [56].
Parole granted me to visit sick child, [56].
Frank Thornton, [68].
Captain Phillips and Wood, [59].
General order No. 209, refusing to recognize, [124].
Gen. Early comments on same, [125].
Parole Camp, location of, [98].
A ration of flour and quarter of pound of bacon to each man, [102].
Life at Model Farm Barracks, [98].
Overcrowded, vermin, [105].
Prisoners from Camp Chase, Camp Douglas and Johnson’s Island tell of their treatment, [100].
Reports (official) verify their statements, [101].
To Upperville, [108].
We get a good feed of beans, [102].
Passers-by arrested and brought in, [26], [27], [32], [33].
Ladies and children not exempt, [27], [32], [38], [76], [87].
Pentz, John, [64], [68], [119].
Perry, William McK., [107], [119].
Petersburg in spring of 1863, [97], [98], [100], [103], [104].
Phillips, Captain Thomas, captured off North Carolina coast, [46], [119].
Released, [59], [78].
Sentenced to three months’ imprisonment, goods confiscated, [46].
Phillips, Captain Wesley, [75], [119].
Pope, Gen. John, order licensing his soldiers to plunder citizens, [45].
Porter, Col. James, [65].
Potomac River, going down on flag-of-truce boat, [90].
Powhatan House, Richmond, [108], [109].
Prison guard, Tenth New Jersey, [35].
At Camps Chase and Douglas, [100], [101].
Brutal and inhuman, [100], [101].
Shooting of prisoners, [36]-[7].
Threats to shoot, [35].
Prison life in Old Capitol,

[19].
Daily routine, [54].
How we passed the time, [29], [48], [50].
My first night in prison, [25].
Rations, recreations and rules—(see Old Capitol Prison).
Prison yard, description of, [54]-[5].
Filthy condition, [55], [85].
Meeting place for friends and comrades, [29].
Prisoners (see Treatment of).
Arrested, imprisoned and no charge against, [42]-[3], [60], [85].
Arrested, robbed and confined without trial, [42], [58], [84].
Conditions North and South, [11].
Ill-treatment and injustice, [42], [58].
In close confinement, [42].
Locked up and forgotten, [59].
March from prison to boat, [89].
Off for Dixie, [84].
Union soldiers, deserters and other offenses, [73].
Private mess in room 16, [26], [28], [30].
Provost-marshal’s office, [19], [58].
All letters must go through and take chance of delivery, [57].
Arrested on information and accuser unknown, [58].
Spies and detectives, [58].
Punishment for trifling offenses, [63], [69], [76].
Purcell, Volney, [85], [119].
R
Rainbow, John, witness in Wirz case, [137].
Randolph, ——, [53], [119].
Ratcliffe, Charles, [108], [114], [118].
Rations at Old Capitol, [22]-[6]-[7]-[8], [30].
At Camp Chase, [100].
At Camp Douglas, [104].
At Johnson’s Island, [100].
At Parole Camp, [98], [99].
On steamer State of Maine, [90]-[5].
Recreations and amusements, [26], [29].
Reilly, ——, [119].
Report of committee of Confederate Congress, [127]-[130].
Committee Sanitary commission, [128].
Gen. Seymour, [126].
No. 67, [127].
No. 209, refusal to recognize paroles, [124].
Rhoades, Rev. R. M., [66].
Richardson, George, [104], [119].
Richmond at outbreak of war, [14].
Gala days in, [14].
Hard times in, [16].
In 1863, [108].
Mayor Joseph Mayo, [40].
Parole Camp to, [108].
“Who wants to go to,” [88].
Rinaldi, Raphael, [61], [77], [119].
Ritchie & Dunnavant, [16], [49], [72].
Robbing prisoners, George S. Ayre, [44]-[5].
Redmond F. Brawner, [43].
James Johnson, [43].
James F. Kerfoot, [44].
Henry Love, [42].
Captain Thomas Phillips, [45].
Provost-marshal, [44].
Robertson River, along the, [110], [111].
Roll-call, [55], [81].
Room No. 10, close and ill-ventilated, [87].
Rooms Nos. 13, 14, 15, 18 and 19, [25], [42], [69], [84].
Room No. 16, description of, [24]-[6].
Formerly old senate chamber, [24].
Our mess, [26]-[8], [30].
Prisoners in, [119]-[121].
Prisoners sent South, [84].
Running the blockade, with my wife and children, [17].
Wilmington, port most frequently used, [47].
Russell, ——, [79], [119].
Russell, Major G. B., [142].
S
Schade, Louis, [132].
Sea-gulls, [92].
Seal, Mr., hotel, Madison Court House, [110].
Seymour, Gen., report, [126].
“Sheepskins,” outrages by, [65].
Shenandoah River, along the, [116].
Sherman, Captain, [104].
Shooting prisoners, Gen. John McNeil, [66].
Harry Stewart, [36]-[7].
Threats to shoot, [35], [37].
Jesse Wharton, [36].
Short, ——, [119].
“Sick call,” [54], [82].
Sidner, Captain Thomas A., [66].
Signal stations on James River, [95]-[6].
Simmons, Albert, [85], [88], [119].
Sinks, very offensive, [55].
“Slim Jim,” [29].
Smallpox, changed from room to room, [84].
Smith, Hiram, [66].
Smith, John C., [119].
Smith, Lieut., [104].
Songs and singing, [48]-[9], [50].
“All prisoners confined in Capitol jail,” [48].
Belle Boyd, [50]-[1].
Order prohibiting, [53].
Spence, William A., [121].
Spies and detectives, [29], [30].
Spy system and its injustice, [58].
Stant, James, [78], [119].
Stewart, Harry, killed by guard, [36]-[7].
State of Maine, flag-of-truce boat, [90].
Rations, [90].
Staterooms, [90], [94].
Stone’s Landing, on Potomac, [17].
Storm, R. B., [119].
Stormy traveling through mountain and valley, [111]-[115].
Stoughton, Brig.-Gen., war-time telegrapher tells of his capture, [154]-[5].
Sunday in Old Capitol, [34], [51].
Supper call, [28], [55].
Sutler, no competition and no cut rates, [28].
T
Tansell, James, [119].
Taylor, George, [119].
Taylor, John W., [119].
Taylor, James, [78], [119].
Taylor, Samuel, [119].
Thackery, Lieut., [78].
Thornton, Frank, [68], [79], [119].
Thornton, William, [119].
Treatment of prisoners, at Andersonville, (see Wirz).
Camps Chase and Douglas, [100]-[4].
Johnson’s Island, [100]-[1].
Efforts of Confederate authorities to relieve suffering, [123].
In Old Capitol, [73].
Gen. order No. 209, [124].
Ould’s letter to Hitchcock, [123].
Report of Confederate Congress, [127]-[130].
Report of Gen. Seymour, [126].
Statements of Confederate prisoners as to cruel treatment verified by official reports, [101].
U. S. authorities aware of sufferings, but did not want exchange, [125]-[6].
U
Unfortunate in matrimonial ventures, [60].
Uniforms, plain instead of showy, [15].
Upperville, from Parole Camp, [118].
V
Varner, Ambrose, [114].
Vermin, in Old Capitol, [67]-[8].
At Parole Camp, [105]-[6].
Vindication of the South, [129]-[30].
Virginia (Merrimac), iron-clad, [91].
Blown up off Craney Island, [92].
Visitors at Old Capitol, [30]-[1].
My wife rudely treated, [74].
Vivandieres, pretty on parade, [15].
W
Wade, John M., [65]-[6].
Ward, Charles, [119].
Ward, Walter W., [119].
Weiler, Emanuel, [38], [119].
Weitbrec, R. F., telegraph operator, tells of capture, [154]-[5].
Wessells and Seymour, Gens., [126].
Western prisoners, at Old Capitol, [64], [75].
A brave young hero, [65].
At Fortress Monroe, [90].
At Johnson’s Island, [100]-[1].
At Parole Camp corroborate accounts given at Old Capitol, [100].
Gen. John McNeil’s brutal massacre, [65]-[6].
Ill-treatment, sickness and great mortality among, [100]-[105].
150 brought from St. Louis, [75].
Outrages and bitter feeling in the West, [64]-[7].
Westmoreland Court House, [17].
Westover on the James, [95].
Wharton, Jesse W., killed, [36], [132].
Whelan, Rev. Father, called as witness, not allowed to testify, [136].
Whiskey, how obtained, [53], [80].
Charlie, our friendly contraband, [53].
Guards ready for consideration, [53].
Defeats escape planned, [52]-[3].
Chew Carter gets more than his share, [81].
He also finds it in hospital, [82]-[3].
“Who wants to go to Dixie,” 80, [88].
Wiget, S. J., Rev. B. F., attended Wirz with Father Boyle, [132], [142]-[3].
Williams, Augustus, arrested and imprisoned four times, [104], [119].
Familiarly greeted by Wood, [37].
His son, 12 years old, and two daughters imprisoned three months, [104].
Williams, W. F., [119].
Williamson, James J., early life, [11].
Arrest and imprisoned in Old Capitol, [19].
At outbreak of war, [12].
At Parole Camp, [98].
At provost-marshal’s office, [58].
Examined by Col. Buell, [85]-[6].
Examined by Captain Parker, [38], [42].
Examined by Col. Wood, [72]-[3].
Granted parole to see sick child, [56].
In railroad wreck, [14].
In Richmond, [15], [40], [108]-[9].
Leave sick-bed to go South, [13].
Off for Dixie, [88].
Meet old schoolmate in prison, [79].
Regularly mustered into Confederate service, [105].
Wilmington, N. C., port most frequently used in running the blockade, [46]-[7].
Winder, Major Richard B., letter regarding offer to pardon Wirz, [139].
Wirz’s farewell, [141].
Wirz, Major Henry, after close of war arrested and imprisoned, [135].
Brief sketch of, [133].
Charged with conspiracy, but no other punished, [138].
Charges and specifications, [138].
Extracts from his diary, [147]-[51].
Father Whelan, [136].
Father B. F. Wiget, S. J., [142]-[3].
Gen. Imboden, [135].
Good-bye to Winder, [141].
Hired witnesses swear his life away, [137].
Last letter to his wife and children, [145]-[6].
Letter from his wife, [144].
Letter of Gen. Imboden, [134].
Letter of Rev. Father Boyle, [139], [140].
Letter of Robert Ould, [136].
Letter of Major Winder, [139].
Letters in official records show efforts to relieve prisoners, [134].
Marini, a witness, [136].
Marquis De la Baume, [137].
Monument at Andersonville, [152].
Night before execution, [141].
Not responsible for sufferings at Andersonville, [125], [130].
Promoted to captaincy for bravery on battlefield, [133].
Promoted to rank of major, [133].
Rainbow, John, a witness, [137].
Rev. Father Boyle, [135], [139]-[40]-[1]-[2].
Rejects proposal to purchase pardon by perjury, [139], [140].
Scene at the scaffold, [142]-[3].
Schade, Louis, [132].
Tried by military commission, [135].
U. S. authorities refuse to give up body for burial, [135].
Witnesses not allowed to testify in his behalf, [135]-[6].
Wood, Col. William P., supt. Old Capitol Prison, [38].
Biographical sketch, [33]-[4].
Gospel according to Abe Lincoln and Jeff. Davis, [34].
Gus Williams, [37].
Wrecks of Congress and Cumberland, [91]-[2].
Wrenn, Lieut. Albert, [99], [104]-[8]-[13]-[14].
Wright, J., [90]-[4], [119].
Wynne, Captain, escaped from Old Capitol, [46].