Alcatraz Before Capone Research Paper

Alcatraz Before Capone
In the early 17th century, a Miwokian Native American traverses a 22-acre island, searching for the eggs of pelicans and other seabirds (Weirde 1). This native is unaware of the cultural and global impact the small, desolate island will have. Around the same period of time, an Ohlone Native American is exiled for violating tribal ordinances (“Pre-1769”). This Native American is homologously unaware that the island he is exiled on will ironically be used for a much similar purpose in only a few centuries as a federal penitentiary. Most Americans now know this island as Alcatraz; however, the island’s use before it housed a federal penitentiary is not typically well-known. When a typical American hears “Alcatraz”, they conjure up images of a maximum-security prison, Al Capone, and many other stereotypicalities. On the contrary, Alcatraz has a surprisingly rich pre-prison history.
Alcatraz’s Discovery

While Native Americans were aware of the island’s existence for thousands of years, the island remained not formally “discovered” until 1772.

The discovery came about by two Spanish explorers via land expedition: Captain Pedro Fages and Father Juan Crespi. The Captain-Pedro Fages-recorded the following in his journal, “Within the estuary we saw five islands, three of them making a triangle opposite the mouth, with a large distance between them; and the nearest of them to the channel at the mouth [Alcatraz] must have been over a league from it” (“An Introduction to Alcatraz Island”). Even though the island was first “discovered” in 1772, a European would not set foot on the island until a few years

later.
In August, 1775, another European explorer returned to the bay area. This explorer is known as Juan Manuel de Ayala. Ayala recorded in his log the following: “...when I reached it proved so arid and steep there was not even a boat-harbor there; I named the island de los Alcatrazes [Island of the Pelicans] because of their being so plentiful there” (“An Introduction to Alcatraz Island”). Therefore, Ayala is credited with not only being the first European to set foot on the island, but, as aforementioned, for naming the island de los Alcatrazes. This naming of the island evolved into the name Americans now call the island: Alcatraz. Additionally, as stated by Ayala, the island is extremely arid and devoid of life, besides the seabirds that build their nests there. Being that the island is so arid, it remained not used for anything of much importance until decades later.
2. Alcatraz Militarizes
In 1847, William Horace Warner conducted a land survey. This was the first detailed survey of the island(“The First Fortifications”). Even though the United States government had not yet made any official plans to reserve Alcatraz for military use, their early interest indicates that government officials saw Alcatraz as a major asset for the defense of the San Francisco Bay area.
While Alcatraz was seen as an asset, no official plan for its’ use emerged until 1850. During the year 1850, President Fillmore ordered a commission to find ideal islands on which to place a military fortress in the bay area(“The First Fortifications”). This order came about due to the government believing that San Francisco harbor and bay area were vulnerable to enemy attack by sea. Following the Mexican-American War, a military buildup took place. This build-up followed the acquisition of Texas and the admittance of California into the United States. The committee included the following islands on their list: Yerba Buena, Angel, and Alcatraz Island. However, the committee had one clear island they preferred, because they included the following (referring to Alcatraz as “the Island”) in their report, “A vessel approaching the city from the north by the Riley channel [east of Angel Island] must pass within two miles of Alcatrazes--thus the main object of preventing an anchorage in the harbor within range of the town may be accomplished from this position and Rincon Point. The Island presents natural advantages for the site of a battery--The walls are already mostly sculpted by nature in the solid rock” (“The First Fortifications”). This representation of Alcatraz impressed President Fillmore, as five days after viewing their report, the President decided to reserve Alcatraz Island for military use. However, it would take the United States government until the year 1851 to actually begin serious planning for a military base on Alcatraz.
On July 17, 1851, the U.S. government put into place a Board of Engineers for the Pacific Coast district (“Military Fortress”). Agreeing with the committee appointed by President Fillmore, Chief Engineer Totten is quoted as saying that military batteries and defenses on Alcatraz should be built “without delay” (“Military Fortress”). By August 4, 1852, Chief Engineer Totten submitted a final plan for Alcatraz Island. The plan contained the following central objectives: the base was to prevent the passage of hostile ships into the bay area, and if hostile ships did gain entrance, arrange batteries in such a way that further entrance would be a hard-fought venture, and finally, install an interior line of batteries on Alcatraz Island that would act as the last line of defense for San Francisco. These plans, signed by Secretary of War Jefferson Davis, provided the general plans for the military base on Alcatraz. However, as most government work goes, it would be a few more years for physical construction to begin on the military base.
On February 7, 1853, Congress finally gave approval and a $500,000 budget to begin work on a base at Alcatraz Island and surrounding islands. Lieutenant Zealous B. Tower was appointed to spearhead construction on Alcatraz Island by Chief Engineer Totten. Upon arriving to San Francisco from Washington D.C., Tower quoted the following in a letter written to Totten, “The Island is rougher than I had anticipated: very rough, steep, and broken on the Eastern portion of the [proposed] North West Battery and where the 3 gun battery is designed to be placed. I have commenced the survey of the North West and South East portions of the Island. The constant prevalence of high winds delays this work much.” (“Alcatraz”). Even though, as Tower aforementioned, building a military base on the desolate island daunted him, Tower wasted no time in beginning construction on the island. In fact, Tower began work the very same month he arrived-August 1853. This further proves the important role Alcatraz would play, and still plays, in United States history. In fact, By September, 1864, the first gun emplacements had been installed on Alcatraz; these marked the beginning of Alcatraz as a fortified place (“Military Fortress”).
In 1865, Tower finally deemed construction on Alcatraz complete (“The First Fortifications”). He had transformed Alcatraz from a desolate wasteland. The desolate island that once housed exiled Native Americans now housed wharves, roads, barracks, and gun emplacements.
3. Civil War-Era Alcatraz
In the year 1862, news reached Alcatraz Island of the Confederate victory. Alcatraz’s commander at the time, Lieutenant McPherson, transferred to become a commander in the Union’s Army (“Alcatraz”). McPherson was succeeded by George Henry Elliot. Elliot was extremely concerned about the possibility of foreign attack on the Pacific Coast during this vulnerable time in American history. He wrote Chief Engineer Totten the following, “Should there be a danger of war with a foreign power (of which, it seems to us, here, there is a possibility) I conceive it to be absolutely necessary that...the fortifications in this harbor...should be constructed without delay” (“The First Fortifications”). Despite Elliot’s beliefs, there has been no foreign attack on Alcatraz Island to this day. However, Alcatraz did see some action during the Civil War.
For example, in March 1863, a rumor had swept the bay area, stating that Confederates were attempting to outfit and supply commerce raiders along the Pacific Coast (“The Post on Alcatraces”). Commerce raiders attack enemy merchant shipping in order to limit their enemy’s supply lines (“Commerce Raiders”). After receiving several tips from local officials and citizens, the Union garrison in San Francisco focused their attention on a schooner by the name of Chapman. Chapman did, in fact, clear the San Francisco custom house; however, after she was underway, Chapman was overtaken by the U.S.S. Cyane-a ship helping to guard the San Francisco harbor- and was towed to Alcatraz Island (“The Post on Alcatraces”). Even though there was a great deal of discussion over protecting the San Francisco harbor, this threat remains the only major threat Alcatraz Island faced as a military base.
4. Early Military Prison and Spanish-American War
The years near the conclusion of the Civil War, approximately 1863-1869, are known as the years of transition for Alcatraz; because, changes were made that would affect Alcatraz for decades to come (“The Years of Transition”). During this period of time, many alterations and changes were made to Alcatraz. In 1864, the garrison quartered on Alcatraz nearly doubled, causing more barracks to be built (Gilbert 229). Additionally, during 1864, a small prison was established for minor felonies and misdemeanors; this prison held 10-20 criminals at a time (“The Years of Transition”). In the year 1865, these prisoners began to be used for tasks within the military installment, such as breaking stone for more construction projects. This act created an opening for Alcatraz to be known as a military prison. However, an attention diversion occurred, focusing government and public attention on a new war in the year 1898.
The beginning of the Spanish-American War brought another rush to heighten the defense of San Francisco Bay. However, Alcatraz did not engage in this heightened security. While two platforms were constructed for new gun installments; the guns were not installed (“The Last Years as a Fortified Place”). Gradually, Alcatraz's armaments were removed. Disarmaments continued until, on December 31, 1901, the annual armament report for Alcatraz declared the island free of coastal guns (“The Last Years as a Fortified Place”).
Alcatraz’s pre-prison history full of important events and interesting statistics. Whether the island was serving as a Native American hunting ground, or a heavily armed military base, the island remains extremely interesting, and worth studying. Alcatraz would not be what it is today, if it had not been for these early events. Alcatraz will continue to serve the United States honorably, no matter what hat it wears in the future.