From the Richmond Dispatch, 11/20/1862, p. 1, c. 5

The City Jail. – This place is tenanted now by nearly two hundred persons, at least one hundred more than it can comfortably hold. All of the prisoners are supported in idleness by the Commonwealth, there being no workhouse to make their labor available. The chain gang, now in operation, can only absorb a very few of the large number of loafers now in jail. In view of the large increase of prisoners an appropriation of $3,000 was made at a recent meeting of the Council to add six additional cells to the jail, but it will be some time before they can be used for the purpose designed.

• Prev
• Next