Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-03-31
THE EVENING STAR.
THE LIBBY PRISON.

Confession that the Prison was MINED.
The rebel Con gressional committee appointed
TO examine and reportt, upon =. v s A. one time
mined, and justify the act. The committee
says: -
yopr committee proceed next TO notice the
Allegation that the Confederate authorities had
prepared a mine under the Libby prison, and
placed in it a quantity Of gunpowder, for the
purpose of blowing up the buildings, with
their inmates, in case of an attempt to rescue
them. After ascertaining all the facts bearing
on this subject, your committee believe that
what was done under the circumstances VIII
meet verdict of approval from all whose
prejudices do not blind them 10 the truth Inc
state eli things was unprecedented in history,
and n ust be judged of according 10 the MOVIES
at work and the res nit accomplished a large
body of northern raiders, under Col. Dahislen'
was approaching Richmond 1t was ascer-
ey tn na etSer Evidence that their de-
sign was to enter the city, 10 set f1re to the
buildings, public and private, for which pur-
pose turpentine balls, in great numbers, had
Confederate States and other prominent men;
10 release the prisoners of war, then number
ing five or six thousand; to put arms into their
hands, and TO turn over the city to indiscrimi-
nate pillage. rape and slaughter. At the same
time, a plot was discovered among tine prison.
ers 70 cooperate in this scheme, and a large
number OF knives and slung- shots made by
putting stones into woolIen stockings were
detectedsin places OF concealment about their
quarters.
To defeat a plan SO diabolical, assuredly the
sternest means were justified If it would
have been right to put to death any one pris-
oner attempting to escape under such circum-
stances, 1t seems logically certain that it would
be equally right to put TO death any num-
Der making such attempt But, in truth, the
means adopted were those OF humanity and
prevention, rather than of execution. The
Confederate authorities felt able to meet and
repulse Dahlgren and his raiders if they could
prevent the escape Of the prisoners.
The real object was to save their lives, as
well as those of our citizens. The guard force
At the prisons was small, and all the local
troops in and around Richmond were needed
to meet the threatened attack. Had the pris-
oners escaped, the women and children of the
city. as well as their homes would have been
1t the mercy Of i've thousand outlaws. HUI.
mainly required that the most urinary meas
ures should be used to deter them from any at
tempt at escape.
A mine was prepared under the Libby
Prison; a Sufficient quantity of gunpowder
was put into II, and pains was taken 70 inform
the prisoners that any attempt at escape made
by them would be efectually defeated. The
plan succeeded perfectly. The prisoners were
awed and kept quiet. DahIgren and his party
were defeated and scattered. The danger
passed away and in few weeks the gun
powder was removed. Such are the facts.
Your committee do not hesitate to make them
known, feeling assured that the conscience of
the enlightened world, and the great law Of
felf-preservation, will justify all that was
done by our country aad her officers.