[Rose Greenhow, My imprisonment and the first year of abolition rule at Washington. London: Richard Bentley, 1863. Page 223.] [see 'The Contumacious state prisoners in Washington'. Daily Morning News (Savannah, Georgia) Friday 18 April 1862, column B.]
And, by way of still further increasing the satisfaction with this condition of things, Captain Gilbert, of the 91st
Pennsylvania Volunteers, drilled these negroes just below my window.
[Greenhow, pages 256-257]
The most brutal of the officers with whom I was brought in contact [while at the Old Capitol Prison] was [sic] Captain Gilbert of the 91st Pennsylvania Volunteers (the same who had drilled the negroes), and Lieutenant Carlton, of Zanesville, Ohio.
...
One day, on going down in the yard, the market-cart of the superintendent had just come in.
My friend Charlie, who drove it, said, 'Will you take a ride?'
I immediately got in--the other female prisoners following my example--exclaiming, 'I am off for Dixie!' and Charlie drove rapidly around the yard.
It is impossible to describe the panic and confusion which ensued. All the prisoners rushed to the windows to enjoy the scene. The officer of the guard, Captain Gilbert, also rushed out, crying with might and main, 'Stop that vehickle [sic]!' The [p.257] guard were doubled all around the yard, and, I believe, were actually preparing to fire upon me.
After driving around the enclosure two or three times, we drew up in front of our redoubtable captain, who verily believed that an escape had been meditated, and that this timely intervention had alone frustrated it.