Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-10
Written for rHr Evxxne STAR.
AN EPISODE OF THE WAR.
The Daring Plan for the Escape of Pris-
oners and Capture of Richmond.

The Daring Plan for the Escape of Pris.
oners and Capture of Richmond.
TIE MYSTERIOUS LETTER RrcErvEp II WASHING
TON - ASSISTANCE REFUSED BIT SECRETARY
sTANroN-How COL cEsNoLA MAruREp HIS
PLANE IN AIcHMoSD-AwAIrrNa THE SIGNAL
The following publication. which has lately
gone the rounds Of newspapers, reminds the
writer Of an interesting occurrence during the
war, Of which, II Gen. Cesnola was not the hero,
he was, at least, very lively part Of it
:sas % iR @ sss ms.s
s:S n sssS
'she' Is written in Italy
MYSTERIOUS LETTER.
At the beginning of 1864 Il do not recollect
the exact date) letter was left at my house by
some person to me unknown. read it. 1t
proved to be letter from my friend l.. P. di
Cesnola, colonel of the fourth regiment, New
York cavalry, then . prisoner of war in the
Libby prison at Richmond. Itspparently con-
tanned request that should write to his wife
wearing apparel in general, of which he was in
great need. l was surprised at his request,
when there was no prohibition to his writing
70 her for such purposes directly. More
over, considered the construction of the letter
rather peculiar. These two facts pondered,
yet could make no more out of that letter than
nave already stated. was very busy and did
not attend to my friends request that day. On
the next another envelope was similarly left at
my house by an incognito. / opened this and
found large sheet, cut in diverse ways over
the lines with holes and slits Of different sizes
and lengths at irregular distances, of the exact
size OF the one on which the letter was written.
Not word on the sheet, no address on the en-
velope. Surely the thing was becoming quite
mysterious and extremely curious. thought
much over the circumstance during the day
ana even became suspicious. 1t was war
time, treason was the order of the day, and the
regime OF Gen. Baker, the government detec-
tive, was in full blast at the capital. Was this
TRICK, TRAP, OR WHAT?
Gould be suspected Of disloyalty, !, who
would have given every drop Of my blood for
the Union! When was the trusted friend and
physician Of Gen. Mcclellan and Of FIVE MEM
bers OF the cabinet? Yet the times were pecu-
liar and extraordinary and Gen. Baker the
most interruptions detective of the period.
Letters addressed to me by Maj. Gen. Doyle,
commanding the British forces in Nova Scotia,
nad found their way to the State department,
there opened and read before being delivered
to me. So should be excused if, under the
sheets.
As the day wore on, however, an idea struck
me, which should have occurred to me before,
and that was to see what relation, if any, these
the sheets and spread them out before me and
laid the sheet, full of holes and cuts, over the
other, and 10 and behold! A plan for the escape
OF 10000 Union prisoners from the jails Of
Richmond. Not only that, but plan for the
taking Of Richmond by the same prisoners, for
the capture of President Davis, HE cabinet,
ana many other important persons who were
to be held as hostages. That's what l read
through those cuts, Sits, and holes. My brain
whirled and my heart swelled in reading
1t over many time, each time more and more
analytically, and the more / studied it the more
convinced became that the execution OF it
was possible. was all excitement the rest Of
the day and as the shades of evening came to
my relief, for i. seemed as il the light of day
might betray my very thoughts, went to see
Hon. Montgomery Blair then Postmaster Gem
eraL went to see him first because he had
been my client and my friend for several years.
To him I unfolded the secret as well as the
sheets. He became intensely interested and
advised me to see Mr.. Stanton, the Secretary
then, at 10 o'clock PM, proceeded and
Mr.. STANTON RECEIVED ME WITHOUT DELAY.
Mr.. Stanton was not an easy man to talk to
and my enthusiasm was somewhat dampened
by his first look. He had way Of fixing his
eye npon you so searchingly that it made you
feel even uncomfortable. After few words,
however, handed him Col. Cesnola's letter
In reading IL his face assumed an expression
that plainly told there is another crank" Then
he quickly turned upon me and exclaimed,
.Why do you bring me this?" then took the
key and placed 1t on the letter saying, ''read it
now, Mr.. Stanton" In a moment he was all
excitement and fairly jumped around the room
circulating: II want none Of this! will take
no part in such foolhardiness! That's murder!
in the streets Of Richmond! Only few weeks
ago Col. Dahlgreen lost his life in foolish AT
tempt to surprise Richmond. 1t will be the
same with this, nay, thousand times worse!"
WHAT WAS REQUIRED.
The letter requested also that the Secretary
of War be notified Of the contemplated move
ment Of the Union prisoners inside, that
feint be made by the Army of the Potomac
and that q body Of cavalry should press for
ward and dash into Richmond, if possible, at
a certain date. For some minutes was awed
argue with him and demonstrate the feasibility
Of the plan, but the more 1 talked the more
excited he became until realized that my at
tempts were in vain, for, when / tried to put
in my last argument, he quickly checked
me BY sharply saying sit is even your duty,
power" saw then that further argument
was useless, and, while preparing to withdraw,
said: Remember, Mr.. Stanton, that il our
prisoners do attempt to escape and they fail for
want Of proper support that you cannot plead
ignorance In justification of your inertness."
This unfortunate speech threw him In another
ct Of passion and withdrew.
Eight or ten days later / read in the papers
that the Richmond authorities had discovered
formidable plan Of escape Of the Union prison.
ers aud that all necessary precautions against
surprise had been taken.
Twas relieved, was sad.
THE PLAN OF ESCAPE,
70 far a. have been able to gather since the
close Of the war, was the following: In March,
1864, about twenty thousand Union prisoners
we're held in various places in the city of Rich
mond, 1,2O0 Of whom, allcommissioned officers,
occupied the building notoriously known as
Libby Prison." small number occupi led
H"Castle Thunder" and about seventeen thou
sand an intrenched camp at Belle Isle.
Among the prisoners In the Libby prison"
was Col. l.. p. di Cesnola. This bold young
oficer conceived the idea Of possible rise and
escape Of these 10000 prisoners. His idea soon
took the shape Of q project, which he commu-
officers, coprisoners of his. They discussed the
matter and finally resolved tina. each should
prepare and submit comprehensive plan for
the escape from the Libby, for the rescue Of
the other prisoners In other localities in the
city, 30. When these plans were prepared,
read and discussed Cesnola's was accepted as
a. A~A