The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1864-04-07
The Rebel Prisons Of Richmond,
GEN. NEAL BOWS EXPERIENCE.
Plot to Blow up Union Prisoners Confirmed.

Brig. Gen. Neal Dow, who has just
Docn rcleoscd from confinement at Rich.
mVnd, having been exchanged for the
rebel Gen. w. II. L. Lee, delivered an
'ddreos at Portland on the oath ult., dc.
cribed his captivity. lie confirmed oil
| he reports of the inhuman treatment oil
/ Ohlon prisoners, stating that lurgu
proportion OF the supplies sent them
IRON the North were stolen by the rob.
els, y ho had TIC mlitury clothing dyed
binck. Ey.ry prisoner who looked Uut
OF the window was shot at. One day a
rebel soldier, who was inside, was shot
at aud killed by the sentry. So angry
were the rebels at this mistake, that they
tried very hard 10 hill Union soldier too
and on several occasions fred into the
wiIdows, hcutycr one Ui the pri.Ont rs
came near enough 10 be srcu. General
Dow gave the following confirmation ol
the nhning Of the prison, To blow it up
should kiipatrick's men get inside the
city. He said:
" On the morning Of Wednesday
March ID, alter we had been in
o mtd II the lunpoa or p OF, Dick Turn
or, the Inspector ul tue Olntury Prisons,
"as asked by many ,tticcrs at different
times II We were correctly informed, aud
ne assured us II was true that a large
quautliy OF powder had been placed un.
ucr the prison, to blow us up, il Kilput-
rick had come in, and that it would be
done yet IL attempts were made tO rescue
US.
. Rev. DIR. Smith, President Of Ran.
dolph Macon College, well known down
South, aud known III the North, too, as
an attic and Influential mau, came into
the prison 20 visit Lieut.. Col. Nichols, OF
the 18Th Connecticut regiment, with
whom he WIS acquainted. lie said that
powder had been placed in the basement
Tor the purpose OF blowing us into
atoms" Col. Nichols did hot believe it,.
Dr. Smith assured him II was so. lie
hdd then Come from the office Of Judge
Ould, Commissioner OF Exchanges, who
told him il was so. R,v. DR.. MeCabc
said the same thing 10 Col. Ccsnula Of
the 9Th Now York cavalry, aud others.
Some officers were in the kitchen at the
back window, directly over the door
Leading into the cellar. Major Turner,
the commundnut of the prison-Dicli
Turncr--aud four or five rebel officers
went into the cellar, aud On the door, aud
one of The officers said, "By c., if
you touch that Off, it viii blow thcm
to IL, sure enough I" On the morning
we came AWAY, Major Turner assured
('upiuin Hisstttt ~ ~ Ia,
connection with myself, that powder
was there, and he said, Rather than
have you rescued, | would have blow II
you To h---rvcn if We had gone there
uursclvo,.r
Gen. Dow also stated that there were
many Union men aud women in Rich
muud, whose names he knew, but ui
course could not report them. lie said
that until recently the rebel leaders were
cuuiidcnt of success, but now were be-
coming more thoroughly convinced of
tle power aud resources of the luyal
States. lie bell, we'd the next campaign,
it properly conducted, would be the last.
The rebels are very anxious 10 get some
other man than Mr.. Linculn elected
The most OF the Southern people view
their case us lost, aud are anxiously in-
quiring MS to what will be done with
thuir persons aud property. They gen.
orally believe that all r,bcl promises 10
pay will be rcpudiatcd. General gloom
and suffering pcryadl the Confcderacy.
All brarchcs ol industry are ruined, and
no ablcbudied man, unless provided with
u special dctCil, can serve as clerk in
nuy store or factory. The negroes,
Gen. Dow everywhere found friendly
and anxious 20 help the Union cause.