The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-01-22


tesitary--gossea tic 0iio-g9t through
cur likes, &c, 3'c--Aa interesting Story
General John Morgan was bOnored
with an ovation on the 9Th, on his arrival
at the rebel Capital. The following hgh-
ly interesting account of bis escape from
the Ohio Penitentisry, and subsequent
adventures, is published in the Enquir-
err:
Their bedsteads were small iron stools,
fastened 10 the wall with hinges. They
ccald be hooked up or allowed TO stand
on the floor, aud to prevent any suspi
eion, foT several days before any work
was attempted, they made a habit to let
them down and sit ct their doors and
read. Captain Hines superintended the
work, while General Morgan kept watch
to divert the sentinel, whose duty il was
to come round during the day and OBJ
serve if any thing was going on. One
day this fellow came in while Hooker
smith was down under the floor boring
away, and missing him, said, "Where is
HOckersmith" The General replied,
'He is in my room, SICK" and immedi-
ately pulled document out of his pock-
ct and said TO him: Here is a memorial
I have drawn up TO forward to the Gov
ernment at Washington; what do you
think Of it?'
The fellow, who perhaps could not
read, being highly fattered at the Gener-
aps condesensioD, took it and very grave
IL looked at it for several moments be-
fore be vOuchssfed any reply. Then
handing il back, he expressed himself
highly pleased with it. In the mean
time HOckersmith had been signaled and
came up, protesting to feel "Vefy unWell"
This sentinel was tho most difficult and
dangerous obstacle in their progress, be-
cause there was no telling at what time
be would enter during the day, and
ct night he came regularly every
two hours TO each cell and inserted
light through the bars of their door, to
see that they were quietly sleeping, and
frequently after he had completed his
rou0ds he would slip back in the dark,
with pair of Indis-rubber shoes on, to
listen at their cells if any thing was GO
ing on. The General says that be would
almost Invariably know of his presence
by q certain magnetic shudder which it
would produce; but for fear that this
acute sensibilily might sometimes fail
him, be broke up small particles of coal
every morning and sprinkled them be-
fore the cell door, which would always
announce his coming.
Everything was now ready to begin
the work; so about the later part of De-
tober they began to bore. ALI were busy
one making a rope ladder By tearing
and twisting up strips of bed tick, an
other making bowie knives, and another
twisting up towels. They labored per-
severingly for several days, and after
boring through nine inches of cem5ut
and nine thickness of brick placed edge
wise they began to wonder when they
should reach the soft earth. Suddenly
a brick fell through What could this
mean? What internal chamber had
they reached? 1t was immediately en-
tered and to their great astOnishmeDt
and JOY, it proved to be an air chamber
extending the whole length of the row OF
cells. Here was an unexpected inteFpO-
sition in their favor. Hitherto they had
been obliged TO conceal their rubbi.h IN
their bsdticks, each day burning 3 pro-
portionate quantity of straw; they had
room enough for all they could dig
Thsy at once commenced TO tunnel at
right angles with this sir chamber, to
get through the foundation; and day IF er
day the blocks of granite were removed,
aud still the work before them seemed
interminsble.
After twenty-three days of unremit-
ting labor, and getting through > granite
wall of six feet in thickness, they reach
ed the soil. They tunneled up for some
distance, and light began to shine. How
| glorious was that light. 1t announced
the fulfillment of their labors, and if
Providence would only continue its favor.
they wsuld soon be free. This was the
morning of the 26lh day of November,
| 1868. Next morning, at II o'clock, was
determined on as the hour at which they
would attempt their liberty. Each mo-
ment that interviewed was filed with
dreadful anxiety and suspense, and each
time the guard entered increased their
apprehensions. The General says be
had prayed for rain, but the morning of
the 9th dsWned bright and beautiful.
The evening came and clouds began TO
gather. How they prayed for them t.
increase. If rain should only begin their
chances of detection would be greatly
lessened. While these thoughts were
passing through their minds, the Keeper
entered with letter for Gen. Morgan
He opened if, and what was his surprise,
and may say wonder, TO find il from q
poor Irish woman of his acquaintance in
Kentucky, commencing, "hly dear Gin
ersl, feel certain you are going t. try 20
git out of prison, but for your sake don't
! you try it, my dear Gineral You
will only be taken prisoner again, and
made to suif.r more than you do now"
The letter then went on to speak of his
kindness 10 the poor when he lived at
Lexington, and concluded by again ex
horting him to trust in God and wsit his
time. What could this mean? No hu-
man being on the outside had been in.
formed of his intention TO escape, and
yet, just IS al things were ready for him
to make the attempt here comes letter
from Winchester, Kentucky, advising
him not TO "try it," This letter had
passed through the examining Office Of
Gen. Mason, and then through the hands
eff the lower officials. What if it should
excite their suspicion and cause them 70
exercise an increased vigilance? The
situation, however, was desperate. Their
fate could rot be much worse, snd they
resolved TO go Nothing now remained
to be done bat for the General and Colo
mel Dick Morgan to change cells. The
hour approached for them to be locked
up. They changed coats, and each stood
ct the others cell door, with his back ex-
posed, and pretended to be engaged in
making up their beds. As the turnkeP
entered they "turned in and pulled
their doors shut.
Six, eight, ten o'clock came. How each
pulse thrObbed as they quietly await
ed the approach Of twelve IL came
the sentinel passed his round-sll well
After visiting few moments to see If be
would slip back, the signal was given,
sll quietly slipped down into the air
chamber, first slufing their flannel shirts
and placing them in bed as they were
accustomed to lie. As they moved quiet
ly along through the dark across to the