Prisoner interrogatiions

There is a famous sketch of a Confederate prisoner at Ft. Delaware being hung by his thumbs. I can post the source and sketch.
In reading about prisoner interrogations during the war, it seems quite a few talked very willingly. What were the methods used and did either side ever use torture ? I've never read much on the subject.
 
There is a famous sketch of a Confederate prisoner at Ft. Delaware being hung by his thumbs. I can post the source and sketch.
Was said prisoner hung by his thumps as part of an interrogation or because he was a discipline problem?
Has another poster pointed out a POWs information is only relevant if it is given very soon after capture. By the time the Pow is dragged off to Delaware his information is largely irrelevant.
Leftyhunter
 
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Not to say what you said about torture is wrong but there is a strong counter argument in a best selling book written by the chief of intelligence in a modern conflict. Since the book deals with modern politics anyone can PM me for information.
Leftyhunter

I'm familiar with the argument. I reiterate my point about stupid and incompetent; not just from an ethical standpoint, but also from a practical one. We could engage in an interesting discussion about why I believe that to be the case, but this is not the appropriate forum.

Regards,
Don Dixon
 
So you are selective in your approval of atrocities? It's not the atrocity that matters it who perpetuate them.
I would like to say atrocities should not happen but they do. It's all about one's sense of morality. Ultimately if I have to pick a side the side that opposed slavery is always going to be the right side.
Leftyhunter
 
The Union had slavery hate to say it.

I would like to say atrocities should not happen but they do. It's all about one's sense of morality. Ultimately if I have to pick a side the side that opposed slavery is always going to be the right side.
Leftyhunter
 
Yes but it was the Union that got rid of slavery via the 13th Amendment not the Confederacy. The Civil War turned into a blood repentance for the sin of slavery.
Leftyhunter

For a nation that owed its origin to unilateral secession, to the pro-secessionist writers of the US constitution the Civil War was a bloody disconfirmation of that document.
 
Hanging Prisoners by the Thumbs from “Scraps from the Prison Table, at Camp Chase and Johnson’s Island” by Joseph Barberie p.288-289 Barberie references Fort Delaware and Camp Douglas prisoners in this illustration.
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20yr75.jpg
 
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Hanging Prisoners by the Thumbs from “Scraps from the Prison Table, at Camp Chase and Johnson’s Island” by Joseph Barberie p.288-289 Barberie references Fort Delaware and Camp Douglas prisoners in this illustration. View attachment 217877
So the hanging of the by the thumbs doesn't seem to have anything to do with prisoner interrogations . It appears to be a disciplinary measure for recalcitrant prisoners. California had corporal punishment for prisoners until 1913 so corporal punishment was not out of the norm. Southern chain gang's " employed the " box" well into the 20th Century.
Leftyhunter
 
For a nation that owed its origin to unilateral secession, to the pro-secessionist writers of the US constitution the Civil War was a bloody disconfirmation of that document.
Yes but it was the Union that got rid of slavery via the 13th Amendment not the Confederacy. The Civil War turned into a blood repentance for the sin of slavery.
Leftyhunter
The Union had slavery hate to say it.

Best Discussed in Secession and Politics, please.
 
The Union was the main concern for Lincoln but this has been argued here many times and it’s a little off topic.
Yes but it was the Union that got rid of slavery via the 13th Amendment not the Confederacy. The Civil War turned into a blood repentance for the sin of slavery.
Leftyhunter
 
There is a good reference specifically for interrogation used on both sides. “Spies, Scouts and Secrets in the Gettysburg Campaign” by Thomas J. Ryan.

The Cavalry on both sides were many times involved in information gathering from soldiers, slaves or citizens. Jeb Stuart was referenced in the book because he would question local citizens and slaves and he was not averse to using threats to “force compliance”. He would also debrief escaped Confederate soldiers for information. Without Stuart, Lee had less information at Gettysburg as many scholars have concluded.

As for the Federals they would use the BMI to interrogate prisoners in order to produce timely intelligence for Hooker. Hooker’s general Orders no.40 specified everyone’s duty to forward without delay: all deserters, contrabands, prisoners, and citizens captured or coming into the lines. All these individuals and any relevant documents would be sent directly to the provost Marshall General so that the BMI could interrogate or examine them. BMI- Bureau of Military Intelligence
 
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