Deserters
Information about deserters in Richmond, VA during the Civil War

Written Accounts

1865-11-23, Official Records, Ser. II, Vol. VIII, pp. 815-816; testimony from one of Gen. Winder's policemen - Libby & Castle Thunder mentioned.
1865-12, The Old Guard; "Camp Lee;" - describes the camp's use as a freedman's village and its occupation by federal forces. Excellent description of the physical facility during the war. By George Fitzhugh.
1866-02-02, Richmond Examiner; body of 24th MA solider found in the river at the foot of 18th street. Body placed in the “dead room” at Libby Prison
1866-02-22, Richmond Examiner; provost court items – offenders sent to Castle Thunder and Libby. Includes a soldier from the 11th US who deserted his post at Libby, now confined there
1866-02-28, Richmond Examiner; 11th US deserter escapes from the Penitentiary but is quickly recaptured. Notice of several other escaped convicts, and criticism of the guards
1866-02, The Cosmopolite, “Reminiscences of A Southern Hospital. By Its Matron.” Part 2
1866-03-10, Richmond Dispatch; deserter from the US Army arrested in Shockoe Cemetery – taken to Camp Winder
1874, The Falling Flag; Evacuation of Richmond, Retreat and Surrender at Appomattox; detailed Confederate account of the evacuation of Richmond
1879-08-28, Wheeling (WV) Register; details about Castle Thunder, recently burned
1883-04-01, Richmond Dispatch; incredibly detailed recollections of the evacuation of Richmond – gives reliable chronology of events of the fire and occupation

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