, 1865-04-03
MINING LIEsEX PRISON.
The DcylIi.h act Confessed and De-
Tended.

It will be rccol1ected that q few months
since some OF our returned prisoners from
Richmond asserted, as fact, that Libby
Prison in that city, flied with Union prison.
CTS, hnd been mined by the rebel authorities,
with the intent Of blowing It up, with all its
inmates, should our forces cRptu.e Richmond.
The story was regarded as too horrible for
credence, andthe subject was dropped but
tht following report Of committee, pub
lisbed in the Richmond Etd,Hiser, acknow1-
edges the terrible truth OF the soldiers story.
F,endishness, with the ass1stanc ce Of oil the
devils IN ths oottomless pit, could hardly do
Your committee proceed ne1t to notice the alte-
Ssop st ahs GonsdeF1ttSS IT,. .uthoses h'd Pre-
f of o
blowing up the buildings, with their inmates, IN
case OF IN attempt to rescue thcm Amer ascer-
~ e aE nSasi
circumstanees will meet verdict Of approval
from all whose prejudicet do not blind them to
II
10 the motives a. work and the result ac-
complished. 4 large body Of Northern
Eaade5s uRdsr c2lopel D.algrsn; ~ =. R ap
reports Of prisoners captured from them, and other
evidence, that their design was to en:et the city,
t, .e 70 ~ 19n ps l. and Sse1 sa e[
Lad been prepared tito murder tho President OF
the Conleoc1a,c States and other prominent men;
10 fEted4e 4ae pE18QneT4 OI WAT+ luc1 numbering
five OF SIX thouaaud; to put arms into their hands,
and turn over the city TO indiscrmInate pl'isg-,
Ispo and slaughter. Al the tame time, plot
wis discovered among the prisoners to CO.
operate in this scheme, and lRrce number Of
lnlTea and etunE-ehots {msde by putting stones
into WOODEN stoektncsl were detected in places Of
ttncs alnept abou, their quarters. To lefeat
plan 20 dlaholltal, assuredIy the 6teEnest me1us
were justiaed. II It would have been right to put
10 death any one prisoner attempting to escape
under such circumstances. 1t seems logically Ger.
tain that it would haTe been equally Ee ht put I'd
desth any number making such att mpt. But. IN
and prevention. rather than Of execution. The
Confederate authorities felt able to meet and re-
pul,e Dahlcren md his rat5eEs II they could pre-
vent the escape Of the prisoners.
The real OBJECT was to save thair lives, as we'll
as tbose OF our citizens. The guard force ut the
rrieons was small and Ill the local troops 10 and
around Richmond we're needed to meet the threat
ered tttack- Had the prisoners escaped. the
women and children Of the city. as well a. their
homes, would h>ve been at the mercy OF i've
thonsapd outlaws. Humanity required that the
most summary measures sbould be used to deter
them from any attempt at escape.
sxfFeienf quantity At gunposcdtr Uds put into IT,
d,.d rains z11s t1ken to inform TIE pHsoneTt th1t
any atteMpt at escape n11de bY thena H0u'd bs r.
CeetuaHy d:}eated. The plan succeeded perfectly
The p1ieoners were awed and Kept quiet Dahl
gren and his party we're delc1ted and scattered-
The oaneer passed away, and IN few weeks the
gunpoWder was removed. Such are the facts.
Your committee do not hesftate to make them
known feeling incurred that The conscience Of the
ervation, will justly all that vas done by ouz
y7rYf%r nuHh her rHfraFa