OLD CAPITOL PRISON, WASHINGTON, D. C.
PRISON LIFE IN THE
OLD CAPITOL
AND
REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR
BY
JAMES J. WILLIAMSON
Author of “Mosby’s Rangers”
Illustrations by
B. F. WILLIAMSON
WEST ORANGE, N. J.
1911
Copyright, 1911
BY
JAMES J. WILLIAMSON
PREFACE
It is not my intention in my prison diary to discussthe constitutional or legal question of arbitrary arrestsand imprisonment of non-combatants, but to presentto my readers a picture of the daily routine of prisonlife as I saw it, together with incidents related to meby fellow-prisoners.
Conditions in the Old Capitol differed in many respectsfrom the prison camps. Prisoners in the OldCapitol were mostly civilians, except where soldiers(either prisoners of war or men charged withoffenses), were brought in and kept until they couldbe sent to places designated; or prisoners from otherprisons held over until they could be shipped Southfor exchange.
In the itinerary of our journey from Parole Campto Upperville I have given little details which to somemay seem trivial and unworthy of note, but I givethem to show existing conditions in sections of theConfederacy through which we passed.
I do not feel that I am straying from the subjectof this narrative of prison experience in appendingsome facts concerning the treatment of prisoners ofwar. It is only by laying before the people a frankand faithful statement that we can overcome prejudiceand hostile feeling, and bring about that hearty reunionwhich is earnestly desired by all who have the peaceand prosperity of the country at heart.
I have before me a report of a sermon from theNew York Press, May, 1909, in which a minister ofthe Gospel (?) residing within the limits of GreaterNew York speaks of “the infamous Captain Wirz”—“a[iv]murderer.” It is charitable to attribute such languagefrom the lips of a minister to ignorance rather thanmalice. Yet, while persons are found who entertainand publicly express such sentiments, I cannot be opento the charge of desiring to awaken and perpetuatebitter memories if I seek to place on record the truehistory of Major Wirz, to refute the falsehoods andmisrepresentations which have crept into history andare still believed by some.
When the grave questions which for years agitatedour country had reached the crisis, and there remainedbut the ultima ratio regum, they were submitted to thearbitrament of the battlefield. We of the South acceptedthe result of that contest and laid down ourarms in good faith. But when we are asked, like awhipped child, to say we were wrong and are sorry forwhat we did, and promise to sin no more, it is askingtoo much. We fought for what we considered ourrights, and lost. Yet our men, who fought and lost,and those who di