Biography
J. T. Kirby was a Castle Thunder detainee who testified before the Confederate congressional investigation in April 1863. Englishman resident of Niagara, Canada; imprisoned on suspicion of being a spy. His habeas corpus case ended March 11, 1863 with permission to return North by flag of truce, which he refused; remained detained at April 15 testimony. Conflicting self-report of eight months versus explicit November 8 date; use explicit date. Source: Official Records, seriesII, volumeV, O.R. II, V, pp. 890-893; local PDF pp. 31-37, https://civilwarrichmond.com/written-accounts/other-sources/official-records/4509-1863-04-official-records-ser-ii-vol-v-pp-871-924-evidence-taken-before-the-committee-of-the-house-of-representatives-of-the-confederate-states-appointed-to-inquire-into-the-treatment-of-prisoners-at-castle-thunder-very-large. Richmond Dispatch, May 25, 1863, page 1, column 6 identifies him as John T. Kirby and reports his special flag-of-truce departure on Saturday May 23 to gain liberty by going North: https://mail.civilwarrichmond.com/courts/habeas-corpus/5482-1863-05-25-richmond-dispatch-655-prisoners-left-richmond-on-5-23-in-charge-of-lt-latouche-includes-canadian-spy-in-castle-thunder. This departure is not treated as an unconditional final release.
