Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1865-04-12
Mine Under the Libby Prison;

A committee appointed by our Congress
to report on the condition Of prisoners of
war, has made the following interesting
statement. that will be new to many of our
readers :. .
Your committee proceed next to notice
the allegation that the Confederate author
tiles had prepared . mine under the Libby
prison, and placed in ita quantity Of gun
powder for The purpose Of blowing up the
buildings, witt their inmates,in case of an
attempt to rescue them. After aseartainingi
.slIthe facts bearing on this subject, your
committee believe that what was done un-
der the circumstances will. meet Q verdict
of approval from all whose prejudices do
not blind them to the truth. The state Of
things was unprecedented 10 history, and
must be judged Of according to the motives
at work and the result. accomplished. A
large body of Northern raiders, under one
Colonel Dshlgren, was approaching Rich
mond. 1t was ascertained, BY the reports
of prisoners captured from them, and other
evidence, that their design was to enter the
city, to set fire to the buildings, public and
private, for which purpose turpentine balls,
in great numbers, had been prepared to
murder the President ofs+the Confederate
States and other promiuent paen TO release
the prisonerso of war, then numbering five
or SIX thousand; to put arms into their
hands, and turn over the city to ihdiscrimi.
nate pillage, rape and slaughter At the
same time, plot was discovered among
the prisoners to cooperate in thistseheme,
and large number Of knives and slung-l
shots (made by putting stones ssintosWoo'en.
stookingsl were ;detected,in places Of CON-
oealment about their quarters To defeat
a plan SO diabolical, assuredly the sternest
means were, justified. If it would have
been right to putto death any one priso-
ner attempting to escape undersuch circum-.
stances, itsseems logically certain that it
would have been equally right to put to
death any number making snch attempt
But, in, truth, the means adopted were
those Of humanity and prevention, rather
than of execution. The Confederate au-
thorities felt able to meet andrepulse Dahl
gren and his raiders if they could prevent
the escape of the prisoners. -
Tie real7object was to save their lives,
as we'll as those of our citizens. Theguard
force at the prisons was small, and all the
local troops in and around Richmond were
needed to meet the tbreatenedattack. Had
the prisoners escaped, the women, and chill
dren of the city, as we'll as. their homes,
would have been at the mercy OF five thou
sand outlaws. Humanity required that the
most summary measures should be used to
deter them from any attempt at escape.
A mine was prepared under the Libby
prison a sufficient quantity of gnnpowder
was put intoit, and pains was taken to in-
form the prisoners~that any attempt at es-
cape made by them would be efectually de-
feated: The plan succeeded perfectly
The prisoners we're awed, and kept quiet.
Dahlgren and his party were defeated and
scattered. The danger. passed away, and
in few weeks the gunpowder vas removed.
Such ara the facts. Your committee do
not hesitate to make them known, feeling
assured that the conscience Of the enlight.
ened world, and the great law Of sell. pres.
leryation, will justify all that vas done BY
our country and her officers. ,s So
TosTHE FRIENDS OF SoLpERs IN GEN.
fJ: d. JeHNsoN's AaadY.-A regular Post
Master having been appointed 70 serve in
this srmYthe better to facilitate the dehy-
cry Of mails, parties writing to officers OF
soldiers ofthis command will be particular
to give as address, the company, regiment'
brigade or staff on which they may be sery:
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