91st PA--Old capitol prison

Old capitol prison (1862 description)

[source: New York Times 19 April 1862, page 2]
[I've transcribed this not because of the value of its information about the Old Capitol Prison, but because of its interest as (apparent) propaganda. The description of the prison as 'a healthy Summer resort', the discussion of only the female prisoners, and the emphasis on their appearance and demeanour (rather than anything they did), are striking.]




The Old Capitol Building and Its Inmates [??]--Description of the Structure--How the Prisoners are Treated--Some of the Captives.

WASHINGTON, Tuesday, April 15, 1862.

The old Capitol building, which has been used for the past ten months for the safe-keeping of Secessionists, both political and belligerent, has become one of the "institutions" of the Metropolis. Sightseers who come here to get a peep at our "elephants" never fail to include this prison among the things to be wondered at.

It is a low, flat, brick building, two stories in height on the front, with a three-story back addition, containing in all some eighteen rooms. Situated at the north end of the avenue, and directly in the rear of our present Capitol, with an unbroken view of the country around, it is altogether a pleasant and desirable place for a country residence, and affords our deluded friends a healthy Summer resort.

On entering the main door in front, and presenting your pass to converse with a prisoner, you are shown to a neat, cozy parlor, where you are told to await the coming of the desired individual. The officer of the day is on hand at the interview, and as all conversation must be in a tone sufficiently loud to be distinctly heard by the presiding officer, it is quite impossible that secesh visitors can squeeze in an interdicted remark to their imprisoned relations. These interviews are generally limited to fifteen minutes, but larger license is sometimes granted, and thirty minutes are permitted. The style of conversation is restricted to that appertaining wholly to the domestic affairs of the prisoner, and all remarks animadverting on the course pursued by our Government touching the imprisonment, is strictly [sic] forbidden.

The prison, which is under the management of the Superintendent, Mr. WILLIAM P. WOOD, is in thorough order, well cleaned, and in a condition to render its inmates as comfortable as practicable. At this time there are about eighty persons confined, of whom only some ten or twelve are political--the remainder being prisoners of war. The great feature of the establishment is the female portion of its inmates, three in number--Mrs. GREENHOW, Mrs. BAXLEY and Mrs. MORRIS, (alias Mrs. Ewart.)

Mrs. GREENHOW, who has been incarcerated since last Summer, partly in her own dwelling, but for the last three months in the old Capitol, is, or rather has been, a gay, dashing widow, rather tall, of small facial outline, and graceful in movement. We say she has been a gay, lively widow, as we understand that her vivacity is considerably reduced since her rebel plumage has been clipped with Union shears. She is aged about 48, but presents a much more youthful appearance, and would readily pass for a person of 28 summers. Her daughter, Miss ROSE, is a sprightly lassie of 13.

Mrs. BAXLEY has been sojourning here some three months. She is a virulent, loquacious secesh, and inclined to be troublesome. A black silk apron, representing a rebel black flag, is sometimes hung from her window, and though ordered by the guard to withdraw it, it is not often that she agrees to the request. She is aged about 45, not prepossessing, and would be termed plain-looking; wears an air of nonchalance, and seems contended with her quarters.
[Doster (p.84) describes her as 'the most defiant and outrageous of all the female prisoners']

Mrs. MORRIS, in style and personnel, is decidedly the most interesting widow of the three. With a fair, smooth complexion, a finely-cut nose of the Roman order, a well-proportioned mouth of the pouting disposition, and a mien at once erect and commanding, she appears to a stranger rather "taking." Like Mrs. BAXLEY, she is disposed to "pitch" into the guards outside her windows, and annoy them to the utmost. It is contrary to the rules to lean your body from the window, but our fascinating subject, calculating, probably, upon a pretty face for extra privileges from the guards, will thrust her head from the opening, and make signals, when unobserved, to sympathizing rebels who may be passing by. She is emphatically uneasy under her imprisonment, and chafes under the rod like all refractory children. A chubby-faced, healthy son, aged 6, keeps her company.
[According to Doster, p.83, she was arrested for giving intelligence to the Confederates. The son may be the Harry mentioned by William Reiff.]

These hoop-skirt rebels will leave us for Dixie on to-morrow or next day. Already the sum of four or five hundred dollars has been collected in their behalf, as previously asserted in the TIMES, and it is said that they have been promised by JEFF. DAVIS Immediately on their arrival a position under his thread-bare Administration whereby they may earn a livelihood--rather severe, I opine, on Mrs. GREENHOW, who has been an accepted belle at the White House under BUCHANAN, and an especial favorite of Ex-Senator SLIDELL, now Minister at large.

Another article

[New York Times 24 July 1862 page 1]
PRISONERS IN THE OLD CAPITAL PRISON

There are now 145 prisoners confined in the old Capitol Prison, under direction of Provost-Marshal Doster. They belong to almost every State in the Union.


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revised 15 Aug 05
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