Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-11-22
AWAITING THE SIGNAL.
Prisoners in Libby Watched and Hop
ed in Vain.
A Mysterious Letter and its Daring
Plan for Capturing Richmond.
Washington Star.

Tho following publication, which has
lately gone the rounds of the newspapers.
reminds the writer of an interesting oc-
currence during the war. of which, If Gen.
Cesnola was not the hero, he was at least a
very lively part of 1t.
La Riforma, a Roman newspaper. says
1t was Gen. di CesnOla who sent to Grant
and Lincoln the strategic plan for the cap
ture of Richmond, the most formidable
stronghold of the rebellion, and by the
adoption of Gen Cesnola's plan. the for
tress of Richmond fell after five days. y
This is American history as ''she' is writ
ten in Italy.
At the beginning of 1864 Il do not recol-
lect the exact date) a 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 4th
Regiment, New York Cavalry, then a
prisoner of war in the Libby prison at
Richmond. Itapparently contained a re-
quest that should write to his wife about
clothing, linen, repairs laundry and wear
ing apparel in general, of which he was In
great need | was surprised at his request.
when there was no prohibition to his writ
ing to her for such purposes directly.
Moreover, | considered the construction of
the letter rather peculiar. These two racts
pondered, yet | could make no NOR out
of that letter than have already stated. |
was very busy, and did not attend to my
friends request that day. On the next
day 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 Sits 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 envelope
Surely the thing was becoming quite mys-
terious, and | extremely curious, thought
much over the circumstance during the day,
and even became suspicious. 1t was war
time treason was the order of the day, and
the regime of Gen. Baker, the government
detective. was in full blast at the capital.
Was this trick. a trap, or what?
Could | be suspected of dlsloyallty, l.,
who would have given every drop of my
blood for the Union. When | was the
trusted friend and physician of Gen Nc
Clellan and of FIVE members of the cabinet ?
Yet the times were peculiar and extraor-
dinary, and Gen. Baker. the most unscru-
pulous detective of the period. Letters
addressed TO me by Maj Gen. Doyle, COM
manding the British forces in Nova Scotia
had found their way to the State Depart
ment, there opened and read before being
delivered to me. So | should be excused if,
under the circumstances. | felt rather ten
der about these sheets
As the day wore on, however, an idea
struck me- which should have occurred to
me before, and that was to see what rela-
ton, if any, these two sheets bore to one
another Then took the sheets and spread
them out before me and lay the sheet full
of holes and cuts. over the other. and 10
and behold A plan for the escape of 90
900 Union prisoners from the jails of
Richmond Not only that, but plan for
the taking of Richmond by the same pris-
oners, for the capture of President Davis,
his cabinet. and many other important per-
sons who were to be held as hostages.
That what ! read through those cuts
Sits and holes My brain whirled and my
heart sweled in reading the plan of this
daring attempt. read it over many a
time, each time more and more analytical
Iy, and the more ! studied it the more con-
vinced | became that the execution of it
was possible. | was all excitement the
rest of the day, and as the shades of even
ing came to my relief, for it seemed as if
the light of day might betray my very
thoUg ghts. | went to see Hon. Montgomery
Blalr then postmaster general. | went to
to see him first because he had been my
client ami my friend for several years.
To him ! &;iffoided the secret as well as
the sheets. He became intensely inter
ested and advised me to see Mr. Stanton
the secretary of war at once. To the War
Department. | then, at 10 o'clock p. m.
proceeded and Mr.. Stanton received me
without delay.
Mr.. Stanton was not an easy man totalk
to. and my enthusiasm was somewhat
dampened by his first look. He had a way
of fixing his eye upon you so searChingly
After few words. however, handed him
Col. Cesnola's letter. In reading it his
face assumed an expression that plainly
told here is another crank Then he
quickly turned upon me and explained
why do you bring me this?" | then
took the key and placed it on the letter
saying, Read it now, Mr. Stanton" In
a moment he was all excitement, and fair
ly jumped around the room, calculating:
Il want none of this. | will take no part
in such foolhariiness. That's murder!
Thousands of our prisoners will be
slaughtered in the streets of Richmond!
Only a few weeks ago. Col. Dahlgreen
lost his life in Il foolish attempt to sur
prise Richmond. 1t will he the same
with this, nay, a thousand times worse!'
The letter requested also that the secre-
retary of war be notified of the contem-
plated movement of the Union prisoners
inside. that feint be made by the Army
of the Potomac and that body of cavalry
should press forward and dash into Rich
mOnd, if possible at a certain date. For
some minutes was awed by Mr.. Stanton 5
excitement. then tried to argue with him
and demonstrate the feasibility of the plan.
but the more | talked the more excited he
became until | realized that my attempts
were in vain. for when | tried to put in my
last argument he quickly checked me by
saying. 1t Is even your duty, sir. to pre-
vent the movement if in your power
saw then that further argument was use
less, and while preparing to withdraw.
said: Remember. Mr.. Stanton. that if
our prisoners do attempt to escape and
they fail for want of support, that you can
not plead ignorance in justification Of your
inertness." This unfortunate speech
threw him in another fit of passion and
withdrew.
Eight or ten days later l read In the
papers that the Richmond authorities had
discovered formidable plan of escape of
the Union prisoners and that all necessary
precautions against surprise had been
taken.
was relieved: | was sad.
The plan of escape so far as | have been
able to gather since the close of the war,
was the following: In March, 1864. about
q. 900 Union soldiers We're held in various
places in the city of Richmond. 1900 of
whom, all commissioned officers. occupied
the building notoriously known as Libby
| Prison. small number occupied Castle
| Thunder, a." and about II 900 in intrenched
camp at Belle Isle.
Among the prisoners In the Libby prison
was Col. L. H. di Cesnola. This bold
young officer conceived the idea of a pos
sible rise and escape of these 10000 pris-
oners His idea took the shape Of pro-
| ject, which he communicated TO four other
| brave and Intelligent officers co-prisOners IF
| his They discussed the matter, and final
! ly resolved that each should prepare and
| submit a comprehensive plan for the escape
| from the Libby for the rescue OF the other
! prisoners In other localities of the city. etc.
| When these plans were prepared. read and
( discussed. Cesnola was accepted as the
/ most practical and comprehensive. This
| plan provided for an organization among
! prisoners that should represent the three
arms of service, viz. Artillery, cavalry, In
\ fantry. These were divided IN detach-
( ments proutzrly otficared each detachment