Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-07-21

How UNION PRISONERS PROPOSED IT.
CAPTURE RICHMOND new story q
the war was recently told by Msior Johp
D. Simpson of the Madison Ui1 Star
who was engaged in it. lie saws; Des
perate ut long confinement, and with tn,
determination of the American soldier.
was planned to escape from Libby prison
release about $4,000 of our soldiers confin
cd in Richmond and on Belle Isle, cpptur,
the arsenal, make jeff Davis a prisoner
cross james river, buru the bridges afte
us and escape down the peninsula! This
plan was perfectly feasible, and woult
have been executed to the letter had it moi
been for n traitor in the prison, who com.
munlcated our plans to the rebels, and the
game was checmatetl.
About half block away from Libby
prison were confined in what was known
as the Pemberton building seven or eigh,
thousand of our enlisted men, on Belle
Isle, an island in James river, opposite
Richmond, about the slme number. In
Libby prison were about thousand Union
officers. Although there were in the pris-
on Gen. Neal Dow of Maine, General
Scammon, and several officers outrankinq
Col. A. ID. Streight, who had boldly cut
his way into the heart of the confctleracy
and exposed its hollowaess, was acknowl.
edged us the leader. He originated the
secret council of five, and was chosen
commandcr-in-c 1t was a sworn se-
cret organization, and was organized, as
its name indicates, in councils or circles
oflive men each, with a leader, and each
room had Il commander. Quietly, night
fiter night the organization went on. Slip
ping, ghost like, in stocking feet, among
the sleeping prisoners, the guides would
lead those who were to be sworn into the
well remembered corner, and rs fast as
one circle was organized another would be
formed, until nearly half the officers in the
prison were members. Every day new
was given out, and the entire
command held we'll in hand.
As soon as a good majority of the off.
GERS had heen sworn in, the break was TO
have been made. The battalion guarding
he prison was to be rushed upon and cap
ured, and Il division of officers, detailed
or the purpose, was to rush where our
soldiers were confined and liberate them. |
As soon as the liberation from the prisons
ook place, which was expected to be all
over in fifteen minutes, and at loss of
1ut few killed. the prisoners were to rush
o the capitol square. 1t was the order
If The confederate authorities to ring the
llarm bell whenever the home guard was
needed, and at its sound the militia who
lad their arms at home with them, were
o rally to the public square. 1t was the
Intention of the Union prisoners to disarm
hese men rs fast as they arrived, and arm
ur own men with their guns. A force
vas to cut the telegraph wires. another
vas to seize the arsenal, another TO capture
EFF Davis and the leaders of the confed-
racy; and then, armed and organized, to
larch across the river, burn the bridges
fter us, and escape. AS | have said, down
he peninsula. We would only have
nd about thirty miles to 60 10 reach our
ines.
This plan was about perfected, all the
etails made, the different officers appoint
i, and there would have been no doubt of
uccess--but one night Il battery and two
egiments Of infantry were drawn up in
.ont of Libby prison. The guns of the
rtillery were trained on the building, and
lie men stood in line before the prison all ;
ight. For two or three nights this was {
4peated, until one morning the Richmond {
apers. containing full details of the plot, |
ere sent into prison, and we saw that we
ad been betrayed. Our enlisted men {
ere hastily sent to Andersonville. iron t
'rs were put up at the windows of Libby. t
10 guard was doubled, and greater Wig |
ance used in guarding us. There was v
othing in the way of full and complete I
of this enterprise but q
eason, and its deadly poison killed it. q
he effects of the successful termination e
this we'll planned and daring enterprise +
ay be imagined. The rebellion would r
I'VE received its death hurt then and S
ere, and thousands of lives and millions |
dollars would have been saved to this f
'untry. fl