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 Marshal 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 Alexander's life from the U.S. Navy voyage with Commodore Perry to Japan; hiding in Canada after Lee's surrender; editorship of Washington DC's Sunday Gazette to his 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 marshal'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."
#6277085 in Books McFarland Company 2004-12-02Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 .72 x 7.30 x 10.08l; 1.22 #File Name: 0786419806207 pages
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