Prisoners complained of Alexander's brutality and that of his guards, particularly excessive lashings and use of his large dog Nero to intimidate them.

In 1862, he was captured while scouting after the Battle of Antietam within Confederate lines in civilian clothes while gathering information for General George McClellan.

Although Walker reassured her mother in a letter from prison that she had a clean bed and adequate food, she weighed only 60 pounds on her release from Castle Thunder.

[2] After Union forces captured Richmond in April 1865, they used the prison for those accused of unruly conduct and similar purposes.

[2] Although Mollie Bean had pretended to be a man to enlist in the Confederate Army, and served for two years in the 47th North Carolina (including twice wounded in action), her Union captors suspected her of being a spy.