I would also look up the records for the jailer Anderson if I were you, simply to verify that there was such a person, which, if verified, is simply another small brick toward the goal of proving the truth of the story you're researching.
Yes, Mr. William P. Anderson's family is quoted in the 1901 newspaper article, they shared their version of the events of Mr. Anderson's death. Mr. Bass's article is the first time I learned the name of the other prisoner, James Fahey. I have sent a few messages to Mr. Bass to see how he came up with that information. He is a historian in Monroe County so I am presuming he found some sort of records. If I ever hear back from him I will share with you what I learned!
I have two more mysteries to solve. In a 1902 newspaper article about my ggf Thomas Hinds, the article mentions that his older brother John Hinds (also spelled Hines occasionally back then) was killed in the battle of Gaines Mills, VA in 1862. They were living in Philadelphia but the one John Hinds I have found was also with the 1st Maryland Cavalry (Union), but the date of death is December 1862 in a hospital. I am wondering if this could be the same person, and he was wounded at Gaines Mills but didn't die until much later. He would have been 22 in 1862.
The same article says "His younger brother went into the army later, was with Sheridan in the Valley Campaign,, and also in the Fenian movement in 1866, after which he went west to fight Indians and has not been heard from since." His name was Joseph, his dob is 1850, he was from Phildelphia PA. I know Sheridan went west to "fight Indians" after the Civil War, so perhaps he stayed attached to that command somehow?
My question is, should I subscribe to Fold 3 to get more information? Is it more helpful than other sites? I am already using ancestry.com but have hit a dead end there in trying to find out more information about these two brothers.