Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-10-28
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A DARING EXPLOIT.
Prisoners from camp Douglas.

/
The page of history contains the record oi
many hair-breadth escapes Of prisoners OF war.
And In many such attempts the utmost secrecy
must be observed, since the prisoners well
know that sudden and violent death is certain
to follow any failure. In their confinement
they pine for the sweet air Of heaven, and what
will brave soldier not attempt for liberty 2
Every contingency is carefully weighed, the
movements OF the sentinels are closely scanned,
and the state of the atmosphere is watched with
interest, as the attempt must be made at mid
night hour and when darkness covers the earth.
II the clements are at WarLo much the better,
for then the heavy sentinel, aa he marches his
lonely round, will be inclined TO sock the shell
ter OF bis box and be lax In bis vigilance Il
Ia at such ltlme that the attempt must be
made, but still care and caution are highly
necessary. To pass the guard 10 difficult task,
and he who cannot give the countersign when
the sentry calls out vWho goes there7" Is GER.
tain TO be shot down without word OF expla.
nation. But everything is risked, even life tt
aoIf, for liberty, ,-.r, t.,es. -. ,t Il
Within the past few months several thou
sand prisoners have been imprisoned in Camp
Douglas, and many attempts have been made
to escape, but hitherto they have always failed
A number of men have been shot down and the
sentries have become very vlgilant. But the
prisoners also have been on the alert, and many
Of them have ataked their lives to get outside
the walls Of the camp. AT last they have been
successful, and no less than twenty-five Of Nor.
gan's men succeeded In making their escape
from the camp at an early hour yesterday morn
ing, when the martial grounds we're surrounded
In darkness. The means Of escape were most
dsIingly planned, and 1t is evident that skill.
ed sapper and miner was at the bottom Of It,
Some Ingenious individual broached the idea,
after he had carefully turned IL over in his mind
on many sleepless night, that the earth lead
Ing from the barrack- room In which he and his
companions were confined might be tunnelled.
FurtiVe glances were cast on every available
opportunity at the proper spot. Notes must
have been duly taken Of the condition of the
fence and the cheat" Of the nearest SENTRY
Then again the difficulty arose aa to the dIspo-
sal of the mud taken ont Of the tunnel. But
Il Was necessary TO risk everything, and the at
tempt was commenced three days ago. A tuu.
mel large enough to allow the passage Of the
body of man was successfully made under the
fence near one Of the outhouses. They must
have worked with the utmost assidulty, reliev-
ing each other at short intervals. or course
they had to do the digging With their hands,
spades and mattocks being entirely out of their
reach. ..,. 1g.l.. fI- asls
When the tunnel was at length completed
the news was spread aronnd, and twenty -four
men, one after another, worked themselves
through the narrow opening. The feas was q
daring one, bnt the moment they were on the
outside freedom animated them. when IL was
found that 60 large number Of the prisoners
had escaped the greatest consternaiion prevail
ed nths camp. Parties were sent out In all
directions; tho police authorities were notified.
but up to midnight mob q single capture had
been made. Doubtless strenuous efforts will
be taken to arrest the men and convey them
back 10 their old quarters. The majority Of
those who escaped belong to the ID Kentucky
Cavalry. gt2 -.... ..-'..''--.. ..-...-.
About two weeks ago twelve men made On
attempt TO escape when the camp sewer was 10
progress of construction, but they were cap.
tured before they were able to get beyond the
precincts Of the camp Their companions in
captivity have in this instance been moro for
tunate. II remains TO be seen, however
whether they will be able TO make their es-
cape good 10 the "Sunny South"