Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1864-04-15
rHE REBEL PRISONS OF RICHMOND.


General Neal DOw's Experience-The Plot TO
Blow Up Union Prisoners Confirmed.
Brig. Gen. Neal Dow, who has Just been re-
leased from confinement at Richmond, having
been exchanged for the rebel Gen. w. IL. +.
Lee delivered an address at Portland on the
9th ult, describing his captivity. He con-
tirIned all the reports of the inhuman treatment
of Union prisoners, stating that a large proper
ton of the SUPPLIES sent them from the North
were stolen by the rebels, who had themilitary
clothing dyed black. Every prisoner who look
ed out of the window was shot at. One day a
rebel soldier, who was inside, was shot at and
killed by the sentry. So angry were the rebels
at this mistake, that they tried very hard TO kill
a Union soldier too, and on several occasions
fired into the windows, whenever one of the
prisoners came near enough to be seen. Gen.
Dow gave the following confirmation of the
mining of the prison, to blow it up should Kill
patrick's men get inside the city. He said:
esOn the morning of Wednesday, March I'd,
after we had been informed of the gunpowder
plot Dick Turner, the Inspector of Military
Prisons was asked by many officers atdifferent
times if we were correctly informed, and he as
sured us it was true; that a large quantity of
powder had been placed under the prison, to
blow us up, If Fitzpatrick had come in, and that
it would be done yet if attempts were made to
rescue US.
. Rev. De- Smith, President of Randolph
Macon College, well known down South, and
known in the North too, able and intlu-
ential man came into the prison 10 visit Lieut.
Col. Nichols, of the 18th Connecticut regiment,
with whom he was acquainted. He said that
powder had been placed in the basementfor the
purpose of blowing us into atoms. Col. Mich
OILS did not believe it DIR. Smith assured him
it was so. He had then come from the office of
Tul,ro D,tId Con,peiSSio IF E,VrhanppS who
told him it was so. Rev. Dr. McCabe said the
same thing to Col. Cesnola. ofthe 4th New FORK
cavalry and Others Some officers were in the
kitchen at the back window, directly over the
door leading into the cellar. Major Turner, the
commandment of the prison-Dick Tuner-and
four or FIVE rebel officers went into the cellar,
and on coming out they remained a few mo-
ments at the door, and one of the officers said,
BY C., if you touch that off, it will blow
them oh, sure enoughr On the morning
we came away, Major Turner assured Captain
Sawyer and Captain Flynn, who were exchang-
ed In connection with myself, that powder was
there, and he said, Rather than have you res
cued | would have blown you to h, even
if we had gone there ourselves.
General Dow also stated that there were ma
nv Union men and women in Richmond, whose
names he knew, but of course could not report
them. He said that until recently the rebel
leaders were confident of success, but now were
becoming more thoroughly convinced of the
power and resources of the loyal States. He
believed the next campaign, if properly con-
Quoted, would be the last. The rebels are very
anxious to get some other man than Mr. Lincoln
elected. The most of the Southern people view
their case as lost, and are anxiously inquiring
as to what will be-done with their persons and
property They generally believe that all reb-
el promises to pay will be repudiated. General
gloom and suffering pervade the Confederacy.
All branches of industry are ruined, and no
able-bodied man, unless provided with a spec
ial detail can serve as clerk in any store fac
tory. The negroes, General Dow everywhere
found, friendly and anxious to help the Union
cause.