The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1838-12-04

and each taking change OF linen and what
other little necessaries wanted, made ready
for the start; three out of the OF the men CON
fined with us volunteering to go with us and
share our fate; the rest remained. Although the
bar had been sawed through, and had been Sc
for upwards of six weeks, yet it took us a great
deal of time to pry it offand to work the lower
part out of the socket in which it was placed, so
thatawe were not ready until eleven o'clock. We
then gave the sentry draught OF porter, in
which was put small q,lantsty Of Lastdanum les,
our going ont might disturb his slumbers, and
the rain having ceased, he began to get stupii-
ed with the effect of the opium, tottered about;
and the bar being then off, we had no aterna.
tiye--go we must; and calling the sentry to me
| told him that the little drop of porter had tn
ken had made me feel supplied and cold and
that should Try IA little brandy, 1--WE had got IA
small bottle for the occasion) so we drank togeth-
er-l got him to stand near inc leaning against
the bars to protect me us l was undresset], from
the cold.
by this time had got his back turned to the
other window, and kept him talking and drink-
ing until Col. Dodge and others went out and
over the fence. got one Of the men who re-
NAMED to take my place at the sentnels side,
who did not preceve the change, while fol-
lowed my comrades. The place which we
passed through was rather tight tor me, and l
had to crawl through without coat or vest. My
coat while climbing the fence l carried in my
i =,
owing to the sheet which Mr. Dodge had fasten-
ed TO the bars, and winch aided us much in our
decent. Noiseless we crawled behind q small
cook house about fifteen PAGES from our room,
and scarcely had We got there when we heard
the relief guard pass within foot of us. We
all, however, crouched low, anu they passed
withouI discerning us. We were obliged to re-
main lintlsthey had changed guards, and l had
seen with pleasure my boon companion, the
last file marching, although with difficulty, tow
ards thetgiiard house. Again we moved forwards
on our hands and knees, one after the other,
when we were again near being dscoveredbythe
NOISE made by one OF our number which attrac-
tedthe attention of The sentinel on.the wall above
our room. On Hearing The noise be moved
down towards us-we all lay flat on the ground,
and after he Had come within few PAGES he
turned round and marched back to his post
again we moved forward and passed the store
houses, behind which is another sentinel, and
had passed opposite the sentinellat the magazine
and were in the parade ground, when we were
alarmed by the noise of Il soldier running from,
1t appeared, our late room across the square
towards the officers quarters-he passed near
us, but did not perceive us. Mr. Dodge enqur-
Ell of me what l thought it meant, and l, more
to encourage the men, than from any belief l
had in what said, answering thai ! supposed
some of them were sick, and that he was prob
ably going TO the Doctors quarters, where it
seems, he did go. Forward we moved again,
but Parker, whose standings l mentioned be-
fore, for what reasons we know not) broke out
OF line and marched in another direction. The
noise he made land it was not little) attracted
the attention of the seniries placed on each side
OF us, &by whom we were Immediately challeng-
ed, but as we made no answer, and as they could
but see our forms very indistinctly, we passed on
quickly but without any niose until we gained the
walls. We placed one of the men at the cor
ner as sentinel to give us the alarm, if neces
sary, while we made the tour to ascertain if our
friend was at his post We searched-he was
not there. We were also alarmed at hearing
some one conversing with the man whom we
had placed as n sentinel (which, by the remarks
we overheard we eonJectured 1t to be the officer
OF the guard. He appeared very anxious to dis
cover who the man was, and still kept advance
ing upon him, which he as anxiousy strove to
elude ny keeping q proper distance. We heard
he officer say, Come, come, let there be no
more Of this foolery. know that'you are one
Of the officers, but you know that it is my duty
o see who you are. You have passed the SEN
inels without answering their challenge, and
I'm resolved, since you will not give me your
name, to find out who you are" He then sprang
owards him, but our man leaped upon the wall
It a part called the Kings Baston,- the officer
then leaped back again and
an for little distance, and then darted into one
't the embrasures Of the guns, or kind of half
sally port. The officer thinking he had passed
straight forward, followed on and made towards
he officers barracks, we thought, to alarm
he garrison. We had now nothing aise to do
1ut Jump from ME wall, as the noise in hauling
Town the rope would unquestionaby direct
hem to us. 1t was dreadful alternative, but
we could do nothing else.
Death or Liberty was our motto when we
started. and none of us would have submitted to
lave been taken alive. l took the lead, letting
myself over the wall. l hung by my hands for
IN instant-then let go--Gods what a shock =
thought every bone in my body was broken to
pieces Culver followed me-then Hull. cal
ed on Mr. Dodge to throw down the piece of
ope he had cut off as still had fifteen feet to
% down. He did so, and followed himself
We lay for little time sprawling about in the
lard ditch, all more or less injured. bad dis
coated my right ANGLE joint, and splintered
he lower part of one of the bones of my leg
culver, believe dislocated his ANGLE, or other
wise badly injured his foot. Hull and Dodge
urt, but not so bad as we were. One of the
nen held on by the piece of rope, and | went
own the second descent followed by the other
l.. <Jrn.,