Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1862-01-29
Visit TO the Rebel Prison House at Washington Sights
and Scenes There.


ieillaie PRISONERS cOnIlueu IN the SiAleenIn
Street Prison were to be removed 10 the
Old Capitol Prison, where, in consequence
of their rebellious procliyities, quarters have
been provided for them. Accordingly we
visited Lieutenant N. f. Sheldon, Of New
FORK, and an officer of the Sturges Rifles,
the Body Guard Of Gen. Mcclellan during
his campaign in Western Virginia, who,
for some time past, has been detailed as
the guard Of these prisoners, and were
admitted, after some delay, into their
quarters
We FIRST entered the parlors Of the house
formerly occupied by Mrs. Greenhow, 'front.'
ing on Sixteenth Street. Passing through
the door on the left, and we stood Ia the
apartment alluded to. There was q bright
fire glowing on the hearth, and tete-a-tete
was drawn up in front. The Two parlors
were divided by red gauze, and in the
back room stood a handsome rosewood
piano, with pearl keys, upon which the
prisoner Of the house, Mrs. G., and her
friends, had often performed. The walls
Of The room were hung with portraits of
friends and others-some on earth and
some in heayen-one Of them representing
former daughter cf Mrs. Greenhow, Ger
truae a girl of seventeen or eighteen sum
meFs, with auburn hair and light blue eyes,
who aied some time s.nce.
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 time. Just
now, as we are examining pictures, there
is noise heard extraordinarily a noise
for il is the voice of child, soft and mu-
steal.
"That is Rose Greenhow, the daughter
ofMis. Greenhow, playing with the guard"
says the Lieutenant, who has noticed our
distractment. at is strange sound here;
you don't often hear it, for it is generally
very quiet" And the handsome face Of
the Lieutenant relaxed into a shade Of sad
ness. 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, aud, 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 as well as visitors. Before
the windows Of the upper stories were
"blinded," the prisoners often appeared at
these points, and were viewed by pedes-
TRANS ON the other side Of the way; but
since the "eake affair" of New Years day
the prisoners have been forbidden to appear
at the windows, and the excitement, instead
Of having beea allayed, has been still fur
ther increased.
The first person incarcerated at the pris-
on was Mrs. Rose 0. H. Greenhow, as she
signs herself. She was arrested on the
18th Of August of the last year, and has
been confined in the prison ever since.
Her husband was formerly employed in
the State Department in this city. She is
woman Of letters, and was born in the
South, although brought up in Washing
ton She is confined in her own house, in
one Of the upper stories, and has the atten-
dance of servant, besides the company
Of her own daughter.
Besides these confined here, were Mrs.
Phillips, her sister, Mrs. Levy, and her two
daughters, Misses Fannie and Lena. Mrs.
Phillips is a Jewass, and her husband mar
ried her at Savannah, Ga. Mrs. Levy was
widow, and her husband, who was for
merly in the army, died. Her two daugh-
ters are finely educated. These latter were,
after being confined six weeks, sent to Fort
ress Monroe.
Next in turn comes Mrs. Betty A. Hass-
Ter, who was born and reared in Washing
ton. She possesses the least education Of
any woman ever confined in this prison.
Her husband is a Southern man. She is
fascinating in appearance, but has not
much decision of character. She was re-
leased on parole by order Of the Secretary
of War.
Mrs. jackson, the mother of the assassin
of Ellsworth, has also been confined at this
DoiIlt. She came here with nothing but q
I flannel gown on and wearing slave shoes.
She was incarcarated but two days and
nights. She has now gone South, to
Richmond, where she has been endeavor-
ING, with but little success, to obtain funds
for the support Of her family. L is ru-
red chat she IS not able to collect fundsm
enoagh to support her from day to day.
Miss Lilly Mackle, daughter Of
clerk in one Of the departments, and be-
longing to one Of the most respectable
/ families in Washington, was also confined
here for two months.
Mrs. MI. a. Onderdonk, who sometimes
represents herself TO be a widow, and
sometimes wife, was arrested IL Chicago
some months since, ans' after being con-
finei here six weeks, was released on pa
roe. Forty dollars were given her to pay
her expenses back to Chicago, but instead
of going there she went 20 New York.
She was last heard Of at St. Louis.
An English lady, Mrs. Helena LoWe,Who
was arrested at Boston, and whose son
was with her, having come with commits
sion in the rebel army, has also been con-
| fined in this institution. The son was
afterwards sent to Fort Warren, and she
returned to England
Af.~ Ellso III panlf ol;aS Cfavar, was