The Business of Captivity
Elmira and Its Civil War Prison
by Michael P. Gray
Kent, Ohio: Kent State University Press, 2001
If I may be allowed to offer a conclusion at the outset, for the reasons that follow, I commend this book to those interested in the plight of those confined for reasons other than the commission of common law offences, a subject that continues to attract attention.1 The story of a City and of the far too many thousand of prisoners of war confined in inadequate conditions has much to teach us about enlightened and cruel penology, the human spirit and ethical behaviour during difficult times. There is much by way of rich instruction to be offered as a result of the study of this extraordinary prison, and Mr. Gray has succeeded in offering it to us, in the hopes that similar mistakes be avoided, surely that goes without saying, but also in the hopes that we will not soon forget how lives are marked by captivity, in great and small ways.
As a further initial conclusion, it may be of assistance to underscore that Mr. Gray writes well. He possesses a pleasant pen in the sense that is words are aligned with ease, and join to form effortless phrases that are informative yet spare in scope, not burdened with unnecessary facts. Further, it will be useful to make plain that the sources he cites are authoritative and appear to be exhaustive. Indeed, we are provided with interesting details gleaned from the pension files of some of the protagonists and from a wealth of primary and secondary materials. Further yet, he commands that rare ability to meld copious layers of information and opinion without resort to circumlocution.
If one may fairly judge the quality of a book by the initial chapter, The Business of Captivity Elmira and Its Civil War Prison is an excellent book, marked by scholarship and ease of exposition. The author succeeds in setting out the history of Elmira, its transformation from an agricultural center blessed with an advantageous transportation network, chiefly by rail, political opportunism, and the good luck of having available facilities that could be transformed readily into a stockade. More importantly, Mr. Gray traces with few words but effectively the travails of the prisoner exchange system, leading to the decision by Union officials not to liberate prisoners who might go on to fight anew and, thus, to the requirement of a large detention facility notwithstanding fears about the ability to house large numbers of men safely. In the course of six pages, then, the author foreshadows the subtle interplay of politics, military needs, and the uncertainty of confinement.
Chapter 2, "Preparations, Arrivals, and Disaster" describes the inauguration of Elmira prison. The author's skill in intertwining rich secondary sources such as memoirs with primary materials such as diaries and official records results in the first of many insights leading to an eventual clear understanding of the nature of confinement as it was anticipated, and as it was experienced.
"The August Buildup", the title of Chapter 3, serves to presage not only the buildup in terms of prisoners, but also the first steps towards the many dramas that the prison would be a witness to. In fact, for a lengthy period of time, the prison and its inmates were a sightseeing venue, with two rival entrepreneurs having erected observation towers that were very popular with the local populace and with many tourists. In this, the author is not merely describing activities of doubtful taste; he is underlining the many faces of war in a setting far removed from the sounds of battle that included profiteering tradesman and shop owners, to name but a few. In addition, this technique leads Professor Gray to discuss the rise of disease, and of deaths, as viewed by the many observers on the towers. As we read at page 26, "... some onlookers were also beginning to understand that the harsh reality of war - and its prison camps - should not be commercialized." We then read of the many stretchers that were moved about, carrying the dead away. What this should teach modern scholars of confinement is that marginalization, exploitation and harassment of detainees serves neither rehabilitation nor retribution but merely enhances base motivations and furthers increases the likelihood of anti-social responses by those made to feel punishment for the sake of punishment.
Chapters 7 and 8 discuss the economics of captivity, first by a review of situation within the prison, including detailed accounts of the black market and the thriving legitimate market, the class structure that emerged respecting the employment opportunities that existed, and the difficulties faced by those who had few skills and no means of earning additional income with which to purchase food. A number of asides provide personal glimpses of daily life, everything from exploitation of the detainees to the success some enjoyed in studying French in the makeshift school. The second of the two chapters outlines what is described as "Economics on the Outside", that is to say how the city of Elmira profited, in every sense of the word, from the presence of over 10,000 prisoners. The enviable situation of lumbermen and farmers was noted in passing at various times prior to Chapter 8, and is emphasized therein. As well, the advantageous position of the town in terms of location and transportation facilities no doubt eased the growth of the prison, with a concomitant rise in associated spending or all sorts of activities. One example will suffice: a former slave earned a small fortune of $7,432.50 burying the dead, some 2,973.
Turning to Chapter 9, "Johnny Reb's Other Occupations", Mr. Gray's tour de force exposition of the daily life of the inmates begins with an endearing review of their pastimes and concludes with a breathtaking account of attempts at escape, concluding with a successful "tunnel job" involving 10 hardy souls. We read of the soldier wishing to study law and the influence of the Freemasons society; of church services and dancing; of diary entries and letter writing; of theft and exploitation of the weak and of forlorn hopes of escape and illuminating triumphs of body and soul. If the reader only has time to enjoy one chapter of this excellent book, this is the chapter to select.
Having examined the question of the conduct of the prisoners vis-à-vis their captors, it will only be natural that attention next be focused on the conduct of the guards towards their charges. In this respect, the author points out the good, the bad and the odious. Chapter 10, "Billy Yank" as Prison Keeper' opens with a description of the relatively benign punishment of those who escaped, and ends with the recitation of the trial and punishment of a soldier guilty of murder. The scope of punishment might include the public display of a sign proclaiming that the wearer is a thief, and escalate to physical violence and torture. We are told of humanitarian acts and of contemptible actions undeserving of the qualifier "civilized". As for the activities outside of the prison walls, as might be anticipated they ranged from church attendance and literary pursuits to baseball, brawling and bawdy houses. The last few pages, as they should, remind us of the humanity of mankind, setting out the attempts to ensure that the final resting places of those who died at Elmira might be consonant with the chivalry expected of victors.
Au demeurant, this is a thorough and impressive piece of work that will foster our understanding of confinement in which there is no attempt at reformation while enlightening us as to the humanity of mankind and the inhumanity of man.
1. See "Gentlemen Convicts, Dynamitards and Paramilitaries: The Limits of Criminal Justice" by Sean McConville, in Ideology, Crime and Criminal Justice A Symposium in Honour of Sir Leon Radzinowicz, edited by A. Bottoms and M. Tonry, Willan Publishing: Portland, Or., 2002, at pp. 55-73; American Citizens, British Slaves Yankee Political Prisoners in an Australian Penal Colony 1939-1850, by C. Pybus and H. Maxwell-Stewart, Melbourne University Press: Melbourne, 2002, and in general, Canadian State Trials Volume II, edited by F.M. Greenwood and B. Wright, The Osgoode Society: Toronto, 2002.
|
