The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1904-11-30
CAN THIS STORY BE TRUE?
llaDgings in The Old Confederate
Prison in Washington.

III the Uhad0W OF the great dome OF the
United States Capital stands the
splendid building which was used as
prison for Confederate soldiers in civil
war times and in the rear yard of
which hundreds of innocent men met
death on the soaffold.
A peculiarly sad and interesting
history of this building is gathered
from Mrs. John r. Briggs, Washing
ton S frst woman journalist, and au-
thor of the famous "Olivia" letters,
aud who was an eye witness to many
OF the cruel hangings which took
place here. This excellent lady is a
native Of Ohio, and this fact gives
added weightto what she says relative
to the historic Confederate "prison,"
which is at the crrner Of lst and A
streets, northeast, one block from the
library and facing the Capitol grounds.
After the British had taken snap
Judgment on Washington and marched
IN and burned the ci,y, the unfinished
Capitol was luft in a wrecked condi-
ton. There was no place, no building,
Tor the lawmakers to hold their ses-
sions, and the temporary Capitol was
built, the building afterwards becom-
ing fashionable boarding house, and
then the prison for Confederate SOL
diers. 1t was in this building that
John &. Calhoun died, and many
Southern men Of prominence in social
aud political life sojourned here when
it was used as boarding house.
Later on the structure was divided
and three residences formed, the cen
tre one being occupied by the late
Senator 1sham 6. Harris, of Tennes-
see, for many years. One is now
known as Lanier Place, and is one of
the most valuable pieces of property
in Washington.
Secretary Stanton selected the old
Capitol as suitable place for oonfin-
ing Confederate spies, suspects and
soldiers, and the solidly constructed
walls, the deep subterranean base
ments, gave the unfortunates no
earthly hope or chance for escape. In
the large rooms and the deep base
ments the prisoners were huddled By
the hundreds and from these places
many Of them were taken to the rear
yard and hanged, the high brick walls
inclosing the yarl shutting out the
horrifying view from the public.
OF these hangings Mrs. Briggs
says I'm 1862 my residence was in a
house adjoining the old Capitol pris-
on, boa=diag with Mrs. Barrett,
widow who had witnessed many shock
ing scenes at the prison. She said she
lived in mortal fear and insisted that
Mr.. Briggs and myself make our home
with her. never regretted the
change of residence so much in my
life. The room to which was assign
ed overlooked the prison yard, where
the condemned prisoners were hanged.
Even today, with recollections dimmed
by more than forty years that have
have passed, shudder when I think
Of the 'horrifying scenes have wit
messed from that window in Mrs. Bar
rett's house. Ah, they were such
handsome, splendid looking men.
Young fellows in tho prime of life,
and | must say that every one of them
marched to the scaffold with the
jaunty, daredevil courage that dis.
tinguished them on the battlefield.
There was no tagging, no Ainching, no
cowardice.
q got SO finally that I could tell
whom there was to be a hanging.
They were Of such frequent OCCUR
renee that the task was not difficult.
When knew that these mon were 70
be hanged would stop up my ears
and run and hide. Sometimes morbid
curiosity would drag me to the window
and would watch them until they
tied the black cap on the man who was
to be hanged. On the day that Mr..
Lincoln Was assassinated I distinctly
remember that four men were exeeu-
ted on the soaffold in that prison
yard.
Whenever possible the news Of
these hapgings and the names Of the
condemned men were kept from the
ears Of the President, as he was con.
tinual)y 'besieged BY broken hearted
women requesting pardops for fathers,
brothers, nusbands and szeethearts.