A comparative study of two Civil War prisons: Old Capitol prison and Castle Thunder prison

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dc.contributor.authorFischer, Ronald W.en
dc.contributor.committeechairRobertson, James I. Jr.en
dc.contributor.committeememberAdriance, Thomas J.en
dc.contributor.committeememberFinkelman, Paulen
dc.contributor.departmentHistoryen
dc.date.accessioned2014-03-14T21:28:51Zen
dc.date.adate2007-02-09en
dc.date.available2014-03-14T21:28:51Zen
dc.date.issued1994-04-18en
dc.date.rdate2014-02-09en
dc.date.sdate2007-02-09en
dc.description.abstractDuring the early parts of the Civil War authorities created two distinct prisons, Old Capitol in Washington, D.C. and Castle Thunder in Richmond, Virginia. These institutions were reactions to an increase in prisoners of state. Confederate and Union officials established these prisons for this particular group: the disloyal. Although both structures held prisoners of war, the most vocal and prominent group of prisoners were civilians. The variety and character of both of these prisons are entirely unique in the annals of the war. The conglomeration of the young and old, rich and poor, male and female forced atypical social settings and class antagonisms. For the most part, governmental authorities took added interest in Old Capitol and Castle Thunder because of the distinctive characters of these prisons and the concurrent feelings that civil liberties should be preserved. Under constant scrutiny, both Congresses, along with prison and military officials, attempted to make sure the prisoners in these two capitals received good treatment. Inmates at these two prisons did receive above average treatment. In some instances, life in these institutions did not resemble incarceration. The heightened awareness of officials and prison superintendents were the primary reason for this good treatment. Yet officials in each state understood that these treasonous persons could be dangerous to each respective government. These feelings were not unwarranted, because many deserved confinement and punishment for their traitorous ways.en
dc.description.degreeMaster of Artsen
dc.format.extentiv, 131 pages, 2 unnumbered leavesen
dc.format.mediumBTDen
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen
dc.identifier.otheretd-02092007-102017en
dc.identifier.sourceurlhttp://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-02092007-102017/en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/40999en
dc.language.isoenen
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.relation.haspartLD5655.V855_1994.F573.pdfen
dc.relation.isformatofOCLC# 30796913en
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjecten
dc.subject.lccLD5655.V855 1994.F573en
dc.subject.lcshCastle Thunder Prisonen
dc.subject.lcshOld Capitol Prisonen
dc.subject.lcshUnited States -- History -- Civil War 1861-1865en
dc.subject.lcshUnited States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Prisoners and prisonsen
dc.titleA comparative study of two Civil War prisons: Old Capitol prison and Castle Thunder prisonen
dc.typeThesisen
dc.type.dcmitypeTexten
thesis.degree.disciplineHistoryen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.levelmastersen
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Artsen

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