Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1864-03-30
Aatiuual Republican.
The Mining OF Libby Prison-Ths Report
Confirmed by Gen. Meal Dow.

The Mining OF Libby Prison-The Report
Confirmed by Gen. Meal Dow.
Gen. Neal Dow made a long and interesting
speech at Portland, Maine, on Friday last, ut
the public reception given him by the citizens,
and In the course of his remarks confirmed the
report that the rebels in Richmond mined the
Libby prison at tho approach Of Knpatrlck's
forces. The following is Gen. Dow's account
Of this barbarous act
They told us Of Kllpatrick's raid. On the
first OF March arrangements had been made to
receive him. And what do you suppose the
arrangements werel To defend Richmond
Was that 1T No. They mined Libby Prison,
with the intention of blowing up II and us; to
(voice; Is there proof OF that y That ls ca
pablo OF proof 1 cannot tell you how the
fact was intimated TO us the NEXT day, without
betraying those from whom the intlmation
came. On the morning Of Wednesday, March
I'd, after we had been informed Of the gunpow-
der plot, Dick Turner, the Inspector Of Mill
tary Prisons, was asked by many officers at diff
ferent times IL we were correctly informed, and
he assured us that It was true; that large
quantity Of powder had been placed under the
prison, TO blow us up II Fitzpatrick had come
In, and that II would be dono yet IL attempts
were made to rescue US.
Rev. DR.. Smith, President Of Randolph Ma
known in the North too as an able and in1u-
entail man, came into the prison to visit Lieu
tenant Colonel Nichols, OF the 18th Connecticut
regiment, with whom he was acquainted. He
said that powder had been placed In the base
ment for the purpose OF blowing us into
atoms" Colonel Nichols did not believe II.
DIR. Smith assured him 1t was so. lie had then
come from the office Of Judge 0uld, Commits
sioner of Exchanges, who told him II was so.
Rev. DR.. McCabe said the same thing to Colo
mel Cesnola, Of the 4th New York cavalry, and
others. Some officers were in the kitchen at
the back window, directly over the door lead
ing into the cellar.
Major Turner, the commandant of the
prlson-Dick Turner-and four or Eve rebel
officers went into the cellar, and on coming out
they remained few moments at the door, and
one Of the officers said, "By c., II you
touch that off It will blow them to h, sure
enoughW On the morning we cAmo away,
Major Turner assured Capt. Sawyer and Capt.
Flynn, who were exchanged In connection with
myself, that powder was there, and he said,
Rather than have you rescued would have
blown you to h, even II we had gone there
ourselves" At first we could not believe IL;
not that We did not suppose them capable OF
1t. We did not suppose them to DO fools
enough to be guilty Of an act like that.
The destruction of nine hundred Federal
officers In that way would not have been a fatal
blow to the Union cause, but It would have
drawn down upon them the excavations of all
mankind; II would have united the Northern
people as one man, and would have filled the
Northern heart with an intense indignation,
aud when Richmond should be captured, It
would have been utterly destroyed, and blotted
out forever from the earth. At first we could
not believe that such an act could have been
contemplated, but we now regard It as estab-
lished by satisfactory proof. Such Is the tenn
per of the leaders Of the robellion Such their
characterl