The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-18
GEN. NEAL DOW'S PERIL
HIS SPANISH FOES IN SELMA, ALA,
BENT ON VENGEANCE.
He Was "a Prisoner of War, Yet Would
Have Been Lynched but for the De-
Termination of Rebel officers.

Atlanta (Ga.) Letter in New York Sun.
General Neal BOWS lingering last illness
and death have revived stories of his ex-
periences while he was a prisoner of war in
this far-away corner OF the Confederacy,
in 1863. The facts are known to many Gecr-
gia, Confederates now living in this city.
Among these are the present secretary OF
state. Colonel a. d. Chandler, Of the For
tieth Georgia Regiment, who held General
Dow captive for some time at jackson,
Miss. and Captain l.. T. Mitchell, of the
same regiment, who personally and alone
conducted the prisoner on a long, round
about journey to Richmond, where he was
confined nearly year and then exchanged
for General w. II. +. Lee, son of Robert f.
Lee. Various accounts have been printed
about the trip from Jackson to Richmond,
by way of Selma and Atlanta. and thence
through the Carolinas, in the course of
which General Dows life was in danger
from a vengeful mob and was saved only
by the GOODNESS and ingenuity of his guard.
Captain Mitchell now comes forward for
the first time with his version of the trip,
and has placed it in the hands of Judge
r. l.. Rodgers, historian OF Atlanta Camp,
Confederate Veterans, for preservation.
In June, 1868, the Fortieth Georgia, I'M
der Colonel Chambers command, was sta
toned at Jackson, Miss, in the rear of
Grants army, then operating against
Vicksburg. One day q squadron of raiding
cavalry belonging to Colonel John L. Lo-
CANS detachment brought General Dow to
Jackson as a prisoner. The general had
been severely wounded while leading his
brigade in charge against the works at
Port Hudson on May rs. Being disabled
for immediate service-his wound was in
the leg-he had taken quarters in the house
of a federal sympathizer outside of the
lines of Banks's army. There the raiding
troops surprised him at night, and, elated
over the capture, delivered him with great
display to the headquarters of General Jo-
seph E. Johnston, the department com
mander, at Jackson. Quarters were given
him, under charge of Colonel Gambler, who
treated the captive more as d guest than
prisoner. General Dow was then veteran
in years, and the courtesy due to age rank
and marked ability was accorded, IN
asked, if not unexpected. In this man
ner prisoner and keeper became warm
friends, and when it was decided to send
the general to Richmond General Johnston
selected for his custodian one of Colonel
Gamblers trusted officers, Captain Mitchell.
Colonel Gambler says that General john
ston proposed to send along a squad of
armed men as escort and guard, but Cap
tain Mitchell declined, saying:
A COURAGEOUS OFFICER.
ST alone will deliver the prisoner safely at
Castle Thunder"
"And he did," adds Colonel Gambler
drawing his revolvers in the presence of
the bowling mob and telling them they
would have to march over his dead body be-
fore they could get at his prisoner. This
took place at Selma, and not at Montgom-
cry. as usually stated. General Dow before
setting out had given Captain MITCHELL his
parole Of honor not to try to escape, and
Mitchell pledged his honor to protect him
Both kept their pledges
The party reached Selma without adven-
ture, ana secured quarters for the night at
the hotel, intending to wait for passen-
ger train. Word reached Selma in advance
that General Dow was to pass through
there a prisoner under guard. InfamatoTy
reports as to his character had been spread
throughout the Southwest from the begin
ming of the war. He was claSSed among
the extreme radicals of New England, a
dangerous fanatic, and SO on. Having
served under Butler in 1861 and 1862, and
taken part in the repreSSive measures in
New orleans after its capture, he was ac-
CuSed of being leader of negro troops and
of close partnership in all the iniquities an
excited people charged upon Butler But
that was not all. Dow had commanded at
PENSACOLA for time, and in dealing with
the turbulent element in that seacoast re-
gion had pursued the course that marked
Buffers rule in New Orleans, The Spanish
element had been especially turbulent and
had sworn TO take revenge at the first OBJ
portunity. In 1863 both New Orleans and
Pensacola were irretrieVably given over to
Federal control and the inland cities con-
tiguous, like Montgomery and Selma, were
filled with refugees of a most dangerous
type, chiefly of Spanish blood.
1t is a fact seldom taken into account
that the Spanlards of the gulf States We're
the bitterest advocates of secession in all
the South. They were doubly rebellious. In
the first place, they had never been recon-
clled TO Napoleons sale of their territory TO
the United States, and, in fact were rebels
at heart against French domination. They
hated, as only people OF the dark Latin
race can, the rule of the blue-eyed blonde
Northerner So at last the Spanish rabble
representative of the hereditary enemies
DEALING WITH A MOB.
Soon after dark there was a commotion in
the streets, and 1t transpired that a mob
composed chiefly of Spanish refugees from
the coast. led by desperate men from PEN
sacola and New Orleans, had determined to
hang General Dow to lamp post. The Gen
eral and his guard were not entirely sur
prised and remained cool and unruffied
Dow had had experience with mobs before
While mayor of Portland, in 1856, single
handed and alone he had braved the lead
ers in the notorious rum riot. Captain Mitch
ell determined to die with him If need be-
but he left no stone unturned to avoid a
collision. There were few real Confederate
soldiers In Selma at that time. but the cap
tain knew of the presence of one of Colonel
Gamblers comrades in arms a warm per-
sonal friend well, who had led Alabama
troops in the field Colonel Bib. He was
the ranking Confederate officer in Selma at
that time After sending a message to Col
Bibb, Captain Mitchell went down to the
street and harangued the mob, which was
surging in front of the hotel IT was then
that he swore that they must pass over his
dead body before they could do harm to
General Dow.
iii a short time Colonel Bibb arrived and
mob to dispense and not cast a stain upon
the Confederaey by assaulting an inoffensve
wounded prisoner whom the fortunes of
war had brought within their reach. They
also explained that an act of that kind would
lead to a retaliation upon the city Of Selma
This last view had effect upon the older and
more respectable citizens They took a Sec
ond thought and turned away from the
scene Finally the Pensacolans and their
strength from the rougher elements of the
city.
Seeing the mob dispense, Captain Mitchell
and Colonel Bibb went to the room occupied
by General Dow. The old hero was very
cool in spite of the fact that his severe
wound, owing to the extreme hot weather
was troublesome and painful. He had arisen
from his couch, put on his uniform. upon
which the fun insignia of rank appeared
to Idle in them in honor, as in honor ne
had won them" The respite was short, for
in a few moments word was brought that
the Spanish element had been largely re-
inforced by the worst desperadoes in the
blood of General Dow, even if they shed