INDIAN-CAPTIVES-L Archives

From: <>
Subject: [INDIAN-CAPTIVES-L] Old Capitol Prison
Date: Fri, 30 Jul 1999 12:02:44 EDT

When the Civil War began, the Old Capitol in Washington, was abandoned and
dilapidated. The government removed the high board fence surrounding the
building, replaced the wooden slats nailed over the windows with iron bars,
and turned it into a prison. Security was provided mainly by guards who
constantly paced around the outside. Many prominent prisoners were confined
in the Old Capitol Prison, including Confederate generals, Northern political
prisoners, blockade runners, and spies. Henry Wirz, commandant of
Andersonville Prison, and the Lincoln assassination conspirators were hanged
on the gallows in the yard of the Old Capitol Prison.

Some of the most noted prisoners were the women spies Belle Boyd and Rose
O'Neal (aka Rose Greenhow).

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