Today in Wheeling History: December 21--Marshall Marks, a young Union soldier from Western Virginia, was branded with the letter "D" for desertion at the Atheneum prison in Wheeling (1863).
The Atheneum, located at the southeast corner of 16th (then John) and Market streets in Wheeling, served as a military prison during the Civil War. Originally built in 1853-54 as a warehouse for the Crescent Manufacturing Company, the four-story structure was converted to hold Confederate prisoners, civilians who refused the loyalty oath, and court-martialed soldiers. On this December day, Marshall Marks, a soldier from Company D, 11th West Virginia Infantry, faced punishment for desertion. During Jones' raid, while home on furlough, Marks was influenced by his Confederate-sympathizing parents to join Jones' command. He was quickly captured by Federal forces and faced court martial. His sentence included branding with the letter "D" on his left hip, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and military confinement for the remainder of his enlistment. Witnesses noted that Marks showed remarkable composure during the branding, with only a slight tremor when the hot iron touched his skin. This punishment reflected the evolving Union military justice system, which initially treated desertion with leniency but gradually implemented harsher penalties as the war progressed. The Atheneum, sometimes called the "Lincoln Bastille," continued serving as a prison until October 1865, before burning down in 1868.
To learn more: WV Archives (https://shorturl.at/mCJdI) (https://shorturl.at/saD5o), West Virginia Encyclopedia (https://shorturl.at/1oFtS), The Historical Marker Database (https://shorturl.at/Aq2Fw), The Clio (https://shorturl.at/5uhta), Wheeling Daily Intelligencer (https://shorturl.at/P3Opy), Encyclopedia Virginia (https://shorturl.at/rjLOA)
Photo credits: The Guards Museum, London UK; The Clio, The Historical Marker, Wheeling Daily Intelligencer
The Atheneum, located at the southeast corner of 16th (then John) and Market streets in Wheeling, served as a military prison during the Civil War. Originally built in 1853-54 as a warehouse for the Crescent Manufacturing Company, the four-story structure was converted to hold Confederate prisoners, civilians who refused the loyalty oath, and court-martialed soldiers. On this December day, Marshall Marks, a soldier from Company D, 11th West Virginia Infantry, faced punishment for desertion. During Jones' raid, while home on furlough, Marks was influenced by his Confederate-sympathizing parents to join Jones' command. He was quickly captured by Federal forces and faced court martial. His sentence included branding with the letter "D" on his left hip, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and military confinement for the remainder of his enlistment. Witnesses noted that Marks showed remarkable composure during the branding, with only a slight tremor when the hot iron touched his skin. This punishment reflected the evolving Union military justice system, which initially treated desertion with leniency but gradually implemented harsher penalties as the war progressed. The Atheneum, sometimes called the "Lincoln Bastille," continued serving as a prison until October 1865, before burning down in 1868.
To learn more: WV Archives (https://shorturl.at/mCJdI) (https://shorturl.at/saD5o), West Virginia Encyclopedia (https://shorturl.at/1oFtS), The Historical Marker Database (https://shorturl.at/Aq2Fw), The Clio (https://shorturl.at/5uhta), Wheeling Daily Intelligencer (https://shorturl.at/P3Opy), Encyclopedia Virginia (https://shorturl.at/rjLOA)
Photo credits: The Guards Museum, London UK; The Clio, The Historical Marker, Wheeling Daily Intelligencer
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