Castle Thunder (prison) facts for kids
Castle Thunder Prison was in Richmond, Virginia, a former tobacco warehouse, located on Tobacco Row
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| Location | Between 17th Street and 18th Street on E Cary Street in Richmond, Virginia, was a former tobacco warehouse, located on Tobacco Row |
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| Opened | 1861 |
| Closed | 1865 |
| Managed by | Confederate States of America |
Castle Thunder was a famous prison during the American Civil War. It was located in Richmond, Virginia, which was the capital of the Confederacy. Before it became a prison, it was a large building used to store tobacco.
The Confederacy used Castle Thunder to hold many different kinds of prisoners. These included Union spies, people who were seen as enemies of the government, and others accused of serious crimes against the Confederacy.
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What Was Castle Thunder?
Castle Thunder was a former tobacco warehouse. It was turned into a prison in 1861. It stood on E Cary Street in Richmond, Virginia. The prison was used by the Confederacy. It held many different types of prisoners. These included captured Union spies. It also held political prisoners. People accused of treason were also kept there. Guards at the prison were known for being very strict.
Strict Rules and Investigations
The most well-known leader of Castle Thunder was Captain George W. Alexander. He was a Confederate soldier. Alexander was captured by the Union Army in 1861. While he was a prisoner, he managed to escape. He then went to Richmond. There, he took charge of Castle Thunder Prison.
Security at the prison was very tight under Alexander. Prisoners often said Alexander was too harsh. Because of these complaints, the Confederate government looked into his actions. In 1863, they investigated Captain Alexander. He was accused of being too strict and unfair. However, Alexander was later cleared of these charges. He argued that the prisoners were very difficult to manage. This, he said, explained his strictness.
Famous People Held There
Many interesting people were held at Castle Thunder. Here are a few of them:
William Jackson Palmer
William Jackson Palmer was a Union officer. In 1862, he was captured. He was scouting for information in civilian clothes. This happened after the Battle of Antietam. He was gathering details for General George McClellan. When questioned, he gave a different name. He claimed to be a mine owner. The Confederates suspected him. They sent him to Castle Thunder. He was later set free in a prisoner exchange. He rejoined his army unit in 1863.
Dr. Mary E. Walker
Another person held there was Dr. Mary E. Walker. She is famous for being the only woman ever to receive the Medal of Honor. This is the highest award for bravery in the U.S. military.
Mollie Bean
After Union forces took control of Richmond, they also used Castle Thunder as a prison. One person held there during this time was Mollie Bean. She had served in the Confederate Army for two years. She even pretended to be a man to join. She was wounded twice in battle. Her Union captors thought she might be a spy.
The End of Castle Thunder
Castle Thunder prison did not last long after the war. In 1879, a large fire broke out. The fire completely destroyed the old prison building.
