From the "Guide to the Archives of the Government of the Confederate States of America," National Archives, 1968: "The Department of Henrico was established on 21 October 1861 and embraced Henrico County [Va.], the seat of which was Richmond. In March 1862 it was extended to include Petersburg and 10 miles of surrounding country, and on May 5, 1864, it was merged into the Department of Richmond." Brig. Gen. John Winder was the department commander. Before the designation of a Commissary General of Prisoners [A&IGO General Order 84, 21 Nov. 1864), the Department of Henrico commander had general charge of the prisons in Richmond. Among those was Castle Thunder (also known as Eastern District Military Prison, Eastern District Station, and the Provost Marshal's Prison), "used for political prisoners (disloyal citizens of western Virginia), captured U.S. citizens, foreigners, deserters, Confederate soldiers undgoing punishment, court-martial prisoners, persons suspected of spying, and captured Negroes."