Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1862-03-12
The Female Prison at washington

A correspondent of the Pliiladelphi
Press give description of a visit to tn
house on Sixteenth street, in Washington
where female spies and rebels have beel
confined. He writes:
When we visited the establishment re
ferred to, we were admitted to the parlo
of the house, formerly occupied by Mrs
Greenhow, fronting on Sixteenth street
Passing through the door on the left, anC
we stood in the apartment alluded to
There were others who had stood here be
fore us-we have no doubt of that-meI
and women ofintelligence and refinement
There was a bright fire glowing on the
hearth, and a tete-a-tetc was drawn up in
front. The parlors were divided by a red
gauze, and in the back room stood a rose.
wood piano, with pearl keys, upon which
the prisoners of the house, Mrs. Green
how, and her friends, had often perform
ed. The walls of the room were hung
with portraits of friends and others-some
on earth and some in heaven-one of them
representing former daughter OF Mrs.
Greenhow, Gertrude, a girl of seventeen
or eighteen summers, with auburn hair
and light blue eyes, who died some time
since.
In the picture a smile of beauty plays
around her lips, and the eyes are light with
a strange fancy, such as is often seen in
the eyes of a girl budding into woman
hood. On the east wall hangs the picture
of Mrs Fanny Moore whose husband is
now in our army, while the walls of the
back room are adorned with different
pictures of the men and women of our
cf wa
pictures, there is a noise heard overhead I;
hardly noise, fer it is the voice of child,
soft and musical.
THAT is Rose Greenhow, the daughter
of Mrs. Greenhow, playing with a guard"
says the Lieutenant, who has noticed our
ut is strange sound here;
you don't often hear it, it is generally
very quiet" And the handsom face of
the Lieutenant is relaxed into shade of
sadness. There are prisoners above there;
no doubt of that; and may be the tones of
this young child have dropped like the
rains of Spring upon the leaves of the
dropping flowers. A moment more and
all is quiet, and save the stepping of the
guard above, there is nothing heard.
The Sixteenth street jail has been an
object of considerable interest for months
past, TO citizens aswell as visitors Before
the windows of the upper stories were
blinded" the prisoners often appear at
these points, and were viewed by pedes-
trains on the other side of the way; but
since the "cake affair" of New Years
Day, the prisoners have been forbidden
to appear at the windows, and the excite
ment, instead of having been allayed, has
been still further iDcraoSad
The first person incarcerated at the pris-
IN was Mrs. Rose 0. II. Greenhow, as she |
iigns herself, Shewas arrested on the llth !
If August of last year, and has been con- /
ined in the prison ever since. Her hus- |
oand was formerly employed in the State |
Department in this city. She is a woman
'f letters, and was born in the South al
hough brought up in Washington. She |
S confined in her own house, in one of |
he upper stories, and has the attendance |
# servant, besides the company of her
,wn daughter, an interesting child of some
welve years. Besides these confined here
7ere Mrs. Philips, her sister, Mrs. Levy.
nd her two daughters, Misses Fannie and
sena. Mrs. Philips is Jewess, and her
husband married her at Savannah, Georg-
a. Mrs. Levy was awidow, and her hus-
and, who was formerly in the army,
lied. Her two daughters are finely edu-
ated. These latter were, after being con-
med SIX weeks, sent to Fortress Mon
oe.
Next in turn comes Mrs. Betty a. Has
ier, who was born and reared in Wash
ngton. She possessed the least educa-
ion of any woman ever confined in this
,rison. Her husband was Southern
nan. She is fascinating in appearance,
ut has not much decision of character.-
he was released on parole by order of
he Secretary of War.
Mrs. jackson, the mother of the assas-
in of Ellsworth, has also been confined at
his point. She came with nothing but a
annel gown on, and wearing slave shoes
he was incarcerated but two days and
lights. She has now gone South to Rich
lond, where she has been endeavoring,
nth but little success, to obtain funds for
ne support of her family. 1t is rumored
hat she is not able to collect funds enough
D support her from day to day.
MISS Lilly Mackle, daughter of Mack
;, clerk IN one of the Departments,
nd belonging to one of the most respect
bic 1amlhes OF Washington, was also con-
ned here for two months. F,
Mrs. NJ. A. Onderdonk, who sometimes
spresents herself to be a widow. and I
,metines a wife, was arrested in CHICAGO
,me months since, and after. being con-
ned here six weeks, was released on
arole. Forty dollars were given her to
ay her expenses back to Chicago, but in !
cad of going there she went to New {
'ork. She was last heard Of at St.
ouis. ID